A National Guard soldier was shot in the leg while attempting to break up a street fight in Washington, D.C., and a 41-year-old man is now facing multiple criminal charges after allegedly opening fire on the troops.
The shooting happened Sunday, October 18, 2026, around 11:10 p.m. in the 400 block of 8th Street Southeast, near Eastern Market. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, National Guard members assigned to patrol the Barracks Row corridor encountered a group of people fighting outside a business.
Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said approximately seven or eight Guard members were inside a parked vehicle, “monitoring” people gathered on the sidewalk when the confrontation escalated.
According to the Associated Press, Carroll explained that the soldiers got out of their vehicle to intervene when they “heard gunshots.”
Investigators said one of the people involved in the fight had pulled out a firearm and started shooting. The Guard members instructed the armed individual to put down the weapon, but the situation escalated into an exchange of gunfire.
“That individual then pointed the weapon toward National Guard members, who returned fire,” Carroll said during an early morning news conference.
Police later provided additional details, stating that the suspect attempted to run from the scene while continuing to fire toward the soldiers. One Guard member was struck by gunfire, while three others discharged their weapons at the suspect.
The wounded soldier suffered a gunshot wound to his leg. The suspected shooter was struck in the abdomen. Emergency responders transported both men to local hospitals with injuries that authorities described as not life-threatening.
Police subsequently identified the suspected gunman as Jerrell Jackson, 41, of Southeast Washington.
According to the department’s official announcement, Jackson was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon involving a gun, assault on a police officer and emergency personnel, carrying a pistol without a license, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Investigators also recovered a firearm at the scene. The allegations against Jackson remain subject to the criminal court process.
The wounded soldier has since been identified as Karon Jones of Lawrenceville, Georgia, a member of the Georgia National Guard. According to NBC Washington, Jones received hospital treatment and was released.
Firefighters stationed nearby also helped respond to the shooting. NBC Washington reported that personnel from a nearby fire station heard the gunfire and assisted with treating the wounded soldier and suspect.
The National Guard shooting has also brought attention to Café 8, a nearby hookah bar that officials say has been associated with previous public safety complaints.
D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen, who represents Ward 6, called for the establishment to be temporarily closed following the violence.
Speaking to The Washington Post, Allen said, “This is not the first time gunshots have gone off.”
He added, “There’s been three or four times this year already.”
Allen said repeated disturbances involving the establishment had required significant police resources. He urged city officials to pursue an emergency closure while regulators examined ongoing safety concerns.
By Monday evening, a closure notice had been posted on Café 8’s window.
According to 7News, the notice stated that the police chief was closing the business under the District’s Emergency Suspension of Liquor Licenses Act of 2005.
The emergency process allows authorities to close an establishment for up to 96 hours, subject to further review. However, the notice photographed by the station did not specify when the closure period would begin.
Authorities have not announced criminal charges against Café 8 or established that the business or its employees were responsible for the shooting.
The incident also caused damage to surrounding property. According to 7News, a bullet struck the front entrance of a nearby business, leaving shattered glass behind. Investigators were working to obtain surveillance footage that could help establish exactly how the shooting unfolded.
Another investigation connected to the same area emerged Tuesday, October 20.
According to FOX 5 DC, investigators are searching for a man accused of punching someone during a confrontation near the shooting scene. A police report described the wanted individual as a club promoter.
Authorities have not established whether that alleged assault was directly connected to the gunfire involving National Guard troops.
The National Guard shooting comes amid continued debate over the military’s role in policing Washington, D.C.
Donald Trump ordered National Guard troops into the capital in August 2025 as part of a federal initiative targeting crime. The deployment has continued despite objections from some District officials and residents who have questioned the use of military personnel in civilian law enforcement.
According to Axios, approximately 2,950 Guard members remained deployed in Washington as of October 20. The District is also pursuing a legal challenge to the deployment, with federal appeals court proceedings continuing.
Sunday’s incident occurred nearly a year after another shooting involving National Guard personnel near the White House.
On November 26, 2025, National Guard members came under gunfire in a separate attack that killed Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and seriously wounded Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Rahmanullah Lakanwal was later charged in connection with that attack.
Authorities have not identified any connection between the two shootings.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Bureau and First District investigators are examining the October 18 confrontation. The department’s Force Investigations Team is reviewing the use of firearms by the Guard members, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will independently assess the evidence.
Carroll said there were “no further threats to the community” following the shooting.
Police are still seeking information from witnesses, including people who were involved in the original fight and left the area before investigators could question them.
Anyone with information about the October 18 shooting can contact the Metropolitan Police Department at 202-727-9099 or submit a tip by texting 50411.
