Georgia National Guard soldier charged after allegedly pointing pistol at coworker in D.C.

Zion Mitchell, a 21-year-old member of the Georgia National Guard, was arrested last week on two felony charges after an incident on Aug. 25 in which he allegedly pointed a loaded pistol at a female fellow service member. The dispute began over whether the woman’s hair complied with Army grooming regulations while the pair were seated in a service van on H Street near Popeyes in Washington, D.C. Mitchell told police the gun was angled downwards, but the colleague reported hearing a holster click and a nearby guard warning that she was almost shot in the hand.

Two other guards said they saw Mitchell aim the weapon, while three did not observe it. He has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, is being held without bond, and will appear for a status hearing on Sept. 15. The incident occurs amid a larger deployment of over 3,000 National Guard troops to D.C. under a task force aimed at reducing crime, a program currently under scrutiny by city officials.