Jury Finds Sean Dunn Not Guilty
A jury in Washington, D.C., decided on Thursday not to convict Sean Dunn, a 37-year-old man who threw a hoagie at federal officers during a law enforcement operation last summer.
The incident occurred along the bustling U Street corridor, where Dunn was seen yelling at Border Patrol Officer Greg Lairmore before launching his footlong Subway sandwich at him. The jury deliberated for approximately one day before reaching their verdict on the misdemeanor charge against Dunn, who was employed by the Justice Department at the time of the incident and was subsequently fired following his arrest.
After the verdict was announced, Dunn expressed relief and optimism about moving forward with his life.
Dunn managed to avoid felony charges after a federal grand jury declined to indict him. His defense team highlighted the emotional toll that the 30-day crime emergency had on him during the trial.
During the altercation, court documents revealed that Dunn approached federal agents, labeling them as “fascists” and “racists,” while chanting “shame.” Video footage captured him shouting, “Why are you here? I don’t want you in my city!” before throwing the sandwich.
The incident turned Dunn into something of a local figure in D.C., inspiring murals depicting a masked individual preparing to throw a sandwich after his arrest.
Defense attorney Sabrina Shroff pointed out that Officer Lairmore received humorous gifts related to the incident, including a plush sandwich toy and cartoons portraying Dunn throwing it. She argued that such evidence illustrated how trivial the case truly was.
Prosecutors maintained that this case transcended whether or not harm was inflicted upon Officer Lairmore; it centered around the audacity of confronting a federal agent performing their duties. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiLorenzo emphasized during trial proceedings that “this isn’t about a sandwich.”
