All articles tagged with #national guard
Edward Ray Fowler, 86, died on October 1, 2026, in Cashiers, North Carolina. A former National Guard member and local business owner, he was a founding member of the Glenville-Cashiers Rescue Squad and served as a deacon at Cashiers Baptist Church. His funeral is scheduled for October 10, 2026.
Mexico's National Guard has integrated a 13-month-old Chihuahua named Comando into its canine unit, outfitting the 7kg dog with miniature tactical gear for search-and-rescue duties. While the force's canine division consists of roughly 350 dogs, mostly German Shepherds and Labradors, Comando is the first Chihuahua recruit. The dog, adopted from elderly owners in the northern state of Chihuahua, has already participated in the Independence Day parade and is now undergoing obstacle course training in Mexico City.
A 21-year-old National Guardsman, Zion Mitchell, is charged in civilian court with two felonies after allegedly drawing and pointing his service pistol at a female fellow guardsman during a patrol in Washington, D.C. He initially denied the act but later told investigators the gun was pointed at a downward angle. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years for assault with a dangerous weapon and up to 15 years for the firearm charge, with a mandatory minimum of five years. Bond was denied and he remains jailed as National Guard deployments in D.C. continue.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, Afghan national charged with shooting two National Guard troops in Washington, D.C.—killing one—has been placed on nonconsensual nutrition after refusing food and water. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta authorized the feeding to keep him alive for trial, as his condition reportedly deteriorates, and prosecutors say the Justice Department is weighing whether to seek the death penalty.
A spike in Russians fleeing across the Georgia border amid intensified recruitment measures and digital summons signals Kremlin preparations for a potential new mobilization, though Moscow denies plans; experts warn the state is moving toward a faster, more repressive draft ahead of September elections, while pockets of civil resistance form in Penza and other regions.
An autopsy released this week found Tyrin Johnson, 20, was shot in the back during the July confrontation with National Guard troops in Memphis and labeled the death a homicide; the findings contradict initial police reports, reignite outrage over the federal task force, and leave investigators to determine what happened.
An autopsy finds Tyrin Johnson, 20, was shot in the back by two National Guard members during a July 5 foot chase in downtown Memphis. The death is ruled a homicide and is under investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; Johnson may have had a handgun, but the autopsy shows a single gunshot wound with no soot or close-range indicators, and no charging decision has been announced as the probe continues.
An autopsy for 20-year-old Evaniel Johnson shows he was shot in the back during an encounter with Tennessee National Guard members, contradicting law-enforcement accounts that he turned toward officers with a firearm. Officials say the death is a homicide and the investigation is open and ongoing, with no charges filed. Johnson's family has questioned the evidence and is seeking video or other proof of what happened.
As of the latest updates, the Hawk Fire northeast of Reno has grown to about 15,040 acres with 0% containment, prompting a Washoe County state of emergency, mass evacuations (tens of thousands affected), and the deployment of Nevada National Guard assets. NV Energy has de-energized around 10,000 customers with some restoration underway; about 250 gas customers are also affected. U.S. 395 remains closed in sections, and evacuation zones and road closures remain in flux on the Perimeter Map. A community meeting is scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m. in the California Building at Idlewild Park and will be livestreamed; a 2 p.m. briefing is also planned. Firefighters—about 720 personnel, 14 crews, 95 engines, 10 helicopters, and nine dozers—continue to build lines, with reports of homes destroyed and injuries among civilians and first responders. Drones are prohibited near the fire to avoid hindering suppression, and shelters and hotel discounts are being arranged for evacuees; updates are posted to Emergency Washoe and the Perimeter Map.
A year into President Trump’s DC National Guard deployment, several troops say they’re embarrassed by the mission and skeptical of its purpose. The operation has cost about $3 million daily with billions projected if extended, and it has claimed a toll including the death of a Guard member. Despite Trump’s framing of a crime crackdown, CAP analysis finds no measurable drop in violent crime, prompting backlash and a harsh response from the White House.
A fast-spreading, human-caused wildfire near Reno expanded to over 23 square miles, forcing about 90,000 residents into evacuation and warning zones with zero containment as shifting winds drove extreme fire behavior. Nevada Governor Lombardo declared a state of emergency and mobilized the National Guard and roughly 800 firefighters; thousands lost power and major routes like US 395 were closed. Evacuation centers opened in Reno–Sparks, residents fled homes with possessions as flames jumped across roads, and officials warned conditions could worsen for days as crews battled the blaze.
The Hawk Fire north of Reno grew to more than 10,500 acres, forcing about 14,000 evacuations and prompting a state of emergency as the Nevada National Guard was mobilized for aerial firefighting; roughly 400 personnel from multiple agencies battled the blaze amid strong winds, low humidity and dry vegetation. Thousands lost power, major routes were closed, and evacuation centers were opened (including the Reno-Sparks Convention Center) while officials urged immediate evacuation. The University of Nevada, Reno campus remained near the edge of the evacuation zone, and Reno’s airport operations were largely unaffected.
Former President Donald Trump threatened to sue over a report on National Guard deployments, a tactic some see as using legal pressure to influence coverage and outcomes rather than addressing the facts on merit.
Trump’s personal attorney threatened a $5 billion defamation lawsuit against the Center for American Progress unless it retracts a July report that found the National Guard deployments in DC, Memphis, and Los Angeles did not measurably reduce crime and cost about $1.7 billion; CAP defended the report as factual and protected by the First Amendment.
A Center for American Progress analysis finds Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to U.S. cities cost more than $1.7 billion and did not reduce violent crime, while noting a 24% drop in opportunistic property crime; Trump attacked the findings in a Truth Social post and threatened a lawsuit, though the White House dismissed the report.