Subway sandwich thrower found not guilty in D.C. jury rebuke

Subway Sandwich Thrower Found Not Guilty in D.C. Jury Decision

A man accused of assault for throwing a sandwich at a federal officer in Washington, D.C. was found not guilty by a jury on Thursday after about seven hours of deliberation.

Case Background and Context

The incident occurred during a federal law enforcement deployment in the city on August 10, 2025. Sean Charles Dunn threw his Subway hoagie at Gregory Lairmore, an agent with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, along the U Street corridor.

Symbol of Resistance

The case has become a symbol of local resistance against the Trump administration’s increased federal law enforcement presence in Washington, D.C.

Sean Charles Dunn called federal officers "racists and fascists," believing they were about to conduct an immigration raid at a gay nightclub during Latin Night.

Details of the Incident

Lairmore wore a bulletproof vest and testified that the sandwich exploded on him, producing the smell of onions and mustard.
Despite the impact, Lairmore was not physically injured.

Aftermath for Dunn

Dunn was apprehended by the police and later lost his job at the Justice Department. Authorities initially attempted to charge him with felony assault, which was not pursued further.

“The sandwich exploded and I smelled onions and mustard — though I wasn’t hurt,” said Agent Gregory Lairmore.

Photographic Evidence

FBI and Border Patrol officers are seen speaking with Dunn after the incident, captured in images by Andrew Leyden/Getty Images.

Author’s summary: This acquittal highlights the charged atmosphere in Washington, D.C., reflecting tensions between local communities and the federal law enforcement surge under the Trump administration.

NPR — 2025-11-06