Two adolescents apprehended for the fatal shooting of a congressional intern
In the heart of Washington D.C., a tragic event unfolded on the night of June 30, near Mount Vernon Square. Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a rising senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was an innocent bystander who lost his life in a senseless act of violence.
Tarpinian-Jachym was in the city to work as a summer intern in the office of Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kansas. His bright future was cruelly cut short when he was fatally shot.
According to reports, the suspects, both district residents, exited a vehicle at an intersection and opened fire on two people riding bikes. A woman who wasn't a target was also shot but miraculously survived, while a 16-year-old male was wounded. Tragically, Tarpinian-Jachym was struck by four shots and did not survive.
Surveillance video played a crucial role in helping investigators identify the three suspects. Two teenagers, Kelvin Thomas Jr. and Jailen Lucas, have been arrested on murder charges for the killing of Tarpinian-Jachym. The third suspect remains at large, and the police have not yet publicly identified them.
The Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, will continue its work to prevent other young people from suffering the same fate as Tarpinian-Jachym. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated that Tarpinian-Jachym's killing underscores the need for the authority to prosecute younger criminals.
MPD Chief Pamela Smith spoke to Tarpinian-Jachym's mother on Friday. In a heartfelt statement, Smith expressed her condolences and stated that Tarpinian-Jachym deserved an opportunity to return home safely to his family, but was senselessly taken from his loved ones.
The House observed a moment of silence in July after Estes paid tribute to Tarpinian-Jachym. President Donald Trump also mentioned Tarpinian-Jachym's killing during an Aug. 11 news conference, with Attorney General Pam Bondi stating that the arrests are a testament to President Trump's efforts to make Washington, D.C., safe again.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also weighed in, stating that any level of gun violence in Washington is unacceptable. The community continues to mourn the loss of Tarpinian-Jachym, a promising young man with a bright future ahead of him, taken too soon.
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