Guardsman faces felony charges for pulling gun after grooming standards argument

A Georgia National Guardsman assigned to the Washington, D.C. mission is facing felony charges after multiple witnesses said he drew his weapon and aimed it at another guardsman. Multiple guardsmen told police that it escalated over an argument about Army grooming regulations, court documents show.

Spc. Zion Mitchell, 21, was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, according to an arrest affidavit filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. 

Mitchell was identified in an affidavit as one of the more than 3,000 National Guardsmen who have been mobilized to Washington, D.C., over the last year to assist with crime prevention. A spokesperson for the Georgia National Guard confirmed his service to Task & Purpose. 

According to court documents, the argument took place on the morning of Aug. 25 while a group of guardsmen were taking a break from patrol duties and were sitting in a parked black van in front of a Popeyes on H Street in Northeast D.C.

The incident was investigated by the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. Six soldiers were identified in the affidavit for Mitchell’s arrest as Witnesses “1” through “6” and the soldier who allegedly had the weapon pointed at her was identified as “Victim 1” or “N.J.” 

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Per the filing, N.J. told police that the gun was drawn after she and Mitchell had an argument “over their hairstyles and whether they were following Army regulations.” Over the last year, the Army has issued stricter grooming regulations, including changes to hairstyles and cuts for men and women. 

In Mitchell’s retelling of the events, he confirmed to detectives that he pointed his pistol at the other soldier, but he described it as a “playful argument” and “part of the playful banter.” Mitchell also told investigators that when he aimed the pistol at her, it was “pointed at a roughly 45-degree angle downward and not pointed towards her head.”

The guardsmen interviewed as witnesses had differing narratives about what they saw and heard during the argument. Witness 4 confirmed that it was a “dispute about hair” but also suggested the two soldiers “do not get along after she rejected his advances.” 

Two National Guard witnesses told police that they personally saw Mitchell point his weapon at N.J. while three others said they didn’t see the weapon. However, one of those guardsmen also said they saw Mitchell playing with his holster, and a second said he “unclicked” it. Witness 3 said Mitchell’s firearm was loaded and there was a round in the chamber. 

Joint Task Force-D.C. officials did not respond to Task & Purpose’s questions about Mitchell’s Guard service, current status with the mission, or whether the National Guard is conducting a separate investigation.

According to the D.C. Superior Court docket and inmate search tool, Mitchell was “preventively detained” and is currently being held in the D.C. jail. His next court appearance, which is a status hearing for the felony charges, is scheduled for Sept. 15.

Task & Purpose requests for comment to Mitchell’s civilian lawyer were not immediately returned.

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