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Guard Members Prevent Potential Knife Attack at D.C. Metro Station

Two members of the District of Columbia National Guard alerted local law enforcement to a potentially life-threatening situation involving a man brandishing a knife and threatening another man at the Waterfront Metro station in Washington, Aug. 18.

Two soldiers walk along a sidewalk, with a building and vehicles parked on the side of a street in the background.
Metro Security
District of Columbia National Guardsmen assigned to the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force provide security near the Smithsonian Metro station in Washington, Aug. 19, 2025. The task force comprises about 800 National Guardsmen, who perform crowd management, presence patrols and perimeter control in support of federal and local law enforcement.
Credit: Army Spc. Giselle Gonzalez
VIRIN: 250819-A-HO992-1002P

 
Army Spc. Tra'shwn Parham and Army Capt. Giho Yang were patrolling the metro station as part of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, Joint Task Force District of Columbia, when Parham said she saw and overheard the man brandishing the knife and making verbal threats. She said she immediately called the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, which responded to the incident. 
 
"We showed our presence and then made sure that citizens around that area were safe. To do that, we had to partner up and communicate with the law enforcement officers that were nearby, making sure that we had eyes and ears on the situation to keep everyone safe," Yang said. 
 
Parham added that other people thanked them and said their presence made them feel safe. 
 
Guard members are continuing patrols as part of task force operations to support local and federal law enforcement partners in safeguarding property and ensuring the continuity of government functions.

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