Man Charged in Shooting of National Guard Member in D.C.
Authorities allege suspect fired on guardsman who intervened in a street fight.
A Washington man has been charged with multiple firearms offenses in connection with the shooting of a Georgia National Guard member who was injured while attempting to break up a fight in Southeast D.C.
Jarrell Lamont Jackson, 41, faces charges including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, assault with a dangerous weapon, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. He is accused of firing his weapon and striking Georgia National Guard member Karon Jones, 20, in the leg. The incident occurred Sunday night in the Eastern Market neighborhood.
According to Jeffery Carroll, interim chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, seven or eight National Guard members in a parked van observed the fight on the sidewalk. When Jones attempted to intervene, Jackson allegedly shot him. Three other guardsmen returned fire, hitting Jackson. Both Jackson and Jones sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were hospitalized.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro condemned the act, stating, "This brazen attack on the National Guard by a repeat violent offender firing into a crowded corridor is exactly the kind of lawlessness our city refuses to tolerate."
The National Guard was deployed to Washington in August 2025 by the Trump administration as part of a mission to combat crime. The force, which at its peak numbered around 5,000 troops, has supported law enforcement operations, patrolled city streets, and assisted in cleanup efforts. The administration asserts the deployment has contributed to a reduction in crime, though city officials and activists have criticized it as an unnecessary militarization and a waste of taxpayer funds.
Washington D.C. filed a lawsuit in September 2025 challenging the deployment, arguing it represents an illegal use of the military for domestic law enforcement. A federal appeals court heard arguments on the lawsuit on October 14. A lower court had previously ruled in favor of the city.
As of Tuesday, over 2,900 National Guard members remained in the district, with Georgia contributing the second-largest contingent at over 500 soldiers.