News Summary
Two 17-year-old boys have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a congressional intern from Massachusetts. The incident occurred during a confrontation involving rival groups in Washington, D.C., resulting in Tarpinian-Jachym’s death from multiple gunshot wounds. The suspects, who have prior violent juvenile records, are facing first-degree murder charges and will be tried as adults. Community leaders are expressing concern about youth violence and the broader social issues contributing to such incidents.
Washington, D.C. – Two Teenagers Arrested in Connection to Death of Massachusetts Congressional Intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym
Two teenagers, Kelvin Thomas Jr. and Jalen Lucas, both 17 years old and residents of Washington, D.C., have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the shooting death of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a 21-year-old congressional intern from Massachusetts. The incident occurred on June 30 in the 1200 block of 7th Street NW, near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Tarpinian-Jachym was reportedly not the intended target of the gunfire, which stemmed from a confrontation between rival groups in the area.
During the violent episode, Tarpinian-Jachym sustained four gunshot wounds, resulting from a barrage of bullets involving two rifles and a 9mm firearm. A total of 79 rounds were recovered at the crime scene. The shooting also left a woman and a 16-year-old boy injured, both of whom are expected to survive. Authorities have stated that the two arrested teenagers are facing charges of first-degree murder while armed and will be tried as adults. Both Thomas Jr. and Lucas have been identified as having prior violent juvenile records.
The teenagers reportedly fled the scene in a vehicle that had been reported stolen from Maryland days before the shooting. Law enforcement later recovered this vehicle in Maryland. The arrests resulted from efforts by the U.S. Marshals Service, with support from multiple federal agencies involved in the investigation.
Community Response and Family Impact
Following the arrests, Police Chief Pamela Smith expressed hope that this development would provide some measure of peace for Tarpinian-Jachym’s family, who have described him as a kind and humble individual with a bright future. Tarpinian-Jachym was a student at UMass Amherst and secured the internship with Kansas Republican Representative Ron Estes after overcoming significant challenges, including dyslexia and a heart condition that required surgery.
Additionally, Tarpinian-Jachym’s family has shared that he was pursuing his dreams and had a positive impact on those around him, illustrating a profound loss for them and the community. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro condemned the senseless killing and criticized the local D.C. city council for perceived inadequacies in addressing youth crime. This tragic event also caught the attention of President Donald Trump, who referenced Tarpinian-Jachym’s death while announcing the deployment of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., to combat rising crime rates.
Search for Additional Suspect
The investigation remains active, as a third suspect is still being sought by the Metropolitan Police Department. Authorities continue to gather information related to the incident in order to address the underlying issues contributing to such violence in the community.
The events surrounding Eric Tarpinian-Jachym’s tragic death have reignited discussions about crime in Washington, D.C., particularly involving youth violence, and have drawn attention to the broader social issues that need to be addressed to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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Additional Resources
- WCVB: Arrests Made in Fatal Shooting of UMass Washington Intern
- Boston 25 News: Two Teens Arrested for Killing of UMass Student
- Washington Post: Arrests Made in Congressional Intern Shooting
- ABC 45: Arrests in Washington D.C. Congressional Intern Shooting
- Fox News: ATF Disrupts Potential School Shooting Threat
- Wikipedia: Youth Violence
- Google Search: Washington DC Crime Statistics
- Google Scholar: Gun Violence in Youth
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Youth Crime
- Google News: Eric Tarpinian-Jachym
Author: STAFF HERE WASHINGTON DC
WASHINGTON DC STAFF WRITER The WASHINGTON DC STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREWashingtonDC.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Washington, DC, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and regional news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Kennedy Center Honors, and the Washington Auto Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Washington Board of Trade and Destination DC, plus leading businesses in government contracting and technology that power the local economy such as Lockheed Martin and Amazon. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into the dynamic landscape of the Washington metropolitan area.
