A Georgia National Guard member deployed in Washington, D.C., as part of President Donald Trump’s task force to combat crime has been arrested for allegedly pulling a gun on a fellow Guard member during an argument over haircuts. Zion Mitchell, 21, was arrested earlier this month and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with an incident that occurred on August 25. According to a report from the Metropolitan Police Department, the altercation happened when a group of National Guard troops took a break. The arrest warrant states that Mitchell and another Guard member, a woman, were sitting in a van when they began arguing about whether their hairstyles met Army regulations. The argument escalated until the woman heard a holster click and believed Mitchell had drawn his weapon on her. After exiting the van, she learned from other Guard members that a weapon had been drawn and pointed at her. She told the investigating officer that she assumed the gun was loaded, as National Guard firearms are typically kept loaded. Mitchell was arrested on September 1. Officials with the Joint Task Force have not yet responded to requests for comment about the soldier’s status or the incident. The presence of National Guard members in Washington, D.C., has been a point of contention since August 2025, when President Trump issued an emergency order citing what he described as out-of-control crime. In response, the local National Guard was activated and deployed alongside hundreds of federal law enforcement officers. Trump also briefly took control of the local police department. Republican-led states sent their Guard members to support the effort, and the deployment has been extended through January 2029. Currently, over 3,100 National Guard members from 18 states, Puerto Rico, and D.C. are still operating in the city as part of the task force. Despite the controversy, Guard members have been involved in a range of activities, including responding to medical emergencies, assisting with arrests, enforcing juvenile curfews, and carrying out community improvement projects. The D.C. Guard also helped with snow removal during a major storm in January. While some residents in Washington have criticized the deployment, arguing that the troops are not effectively reducing serious crime, others have acknowledged the Guard’s contributions to local services and public safety.