Suspect faces federal charges in DC shootout that wounded National Guardsman

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:43:01 -0400

The man accused of injuring a National Guard member in a late-night shootout in Southeast D.C. is now facing federal firearms and assault charges.

Jerrell Lamont Jackson, 41, has been charged in U.S. District Court with the following:

Unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon
Assault with a dangerous weapon
Possession of a firearm during a crime of violence

These federal charges follow the charges he initially received from the Metropolitan Police Department, including assault on a police officer and emergency personnel.

The incident occurred in the 400 block of 8th Street SE at 11:10 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18, according to police.

A group of National Guard members were patrolling the area in a van when they saw a street fight outside of Café 8 Bar, police said.

When the Guard members got out of the vehicle to break up the fight, police said Jackson pulled out a 9mm handgun, started firing toward them and tried to run away.

Surveillance footage shared by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia shows people scattering as shots rang out, with the front door of a nearby smoke shop shot out during the incident.

When National Guard members ordered him to drop the weapon, Jackson ran toward an alleyway while shooting back at them, court records state. He then ran behind a parked Subaru, turned around, and pointed his weapon toward the guardsmen.

According to police, three National Guard members returned fire, hitting Jackson in the abdomen.

One of the National Guard members was shot in the leg as a result.

Both men were brought inside the fire station, and firefighters called police to the scene. According to police, the injured Guard member and Jackson were both taken to a nearby hospital by DC Fire and EMS for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The Guard member was released soon after.

According to a report from the U.S. Marshals Service, Jackson has a lengthy criminal record, including previous convictions for assaulting a police officer, illegally carrying a pistol, and multiple parole violations.

Locally, the shootout has renewed scrutiny on crime in the Barracks Row corridor. D.C. Councilman Charles Allen said he wants Café 8 shut down due to a history of violence in the area.

"I know my other businesses in the corridor are sick and tired of it, and my residents are sick and tired of it," Allen said.

Investigators recovered a Taurus G2C 9mm handgun from underneath the parked vehicle Jackson used for cover, along with at least 14 spent shell casings.

Because National Guard members discharged their weapons, the shooting is under investigation by the MPD Internal Affairs Bureau’s Force Investigations Team.

Jackson remains in custody as the federal case proceeds.

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Suspect faces federal charges in DC shootout that wounded National Guardsman