https://midmichigannow.com/news/nation-world/guardsman-accused-of-drawing-loaded-gun-during-argument-over-army-hair-rules
WASHINGTON (7News) — A National Guardsman assigned to patrol Washington, D.C., is accused of pointing a loaded handgun at a fellow Guardsman during an argument over hairstyles and Army regulations, according to D.C. Superior Court records.
Zion Mitchell, 21, of Macon, Georgia, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. A judge issued an arrest warrant on Sept. 1.
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The alleged confrontation happened around 11:30 a.m. Aug. 25 inside a black van parked near the Popeyes restaurant at 1226 H Street NE, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in D.C. Superior Court.
The Guardsmen were taking a break from a walking patrol when Mitchell and a female colleague began arguing about their hairstyles and whether they complied with Army regulations, investigators said.
One witness told Metropolitan Police Department detectives that Mitchell removed his service weapon and aimed it at the woman over another Guardsman’s shoulder. A second witness also reported seeing Mitchell point the firearm in the woman’s direction.
The affidavit alleges the gun was loaded and had a round in the chamber. When another Guardsman asked Mitchell why he had drawn the gun, Mitchell allegedly responded, “It doesn’t matter, it was on safe.”
The woman did not initially see the firearm but reported hearing what she described as a holster clicking open. She then heard another person tell Mitchell to put the weapon away, according to the affidavit.
The woman left the van and entered the restaurant. No injuries were reported in the court documents.
MPD detectives learned of the allegation through a police liaison to the National Guard. The Guardsmen were brought to the D.C. Armory on Aug. 26 for interviews.
The victim and five witnesses identified Mitchell during a show-up at the D.C. Armory, according to the affidavit. A sixth witness did not participate because he was assigned to guard Mitchell, but investigators said he had pointed Mitchell out to detectives when they arrived.
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Mitchell initially told detectives that he had pulled a pistol magazine from his vest and pointed it at the woman during playful banter, the affidavit alleges. Investigators said he later changed his account and acknowledged drawing his pistol and pointing it toward her, but claimed it was angled downward rather than aimed at her head.