U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro confirmed that two teenagers have been charged in the killing of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a Capitol Hill intern who was shot and killed in Washington, D.C., on June 30. The Metropolitan Police Department arrested 17-year-old Kelvin Thomas Jr. and Jalen Lucas, both residents of Washington, D.C., on first-degree murder charges while armed. A third suspect is also under investigation.
Tarpinian-Jachym, a senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst majoring in finance with a minor in political science, was struck by gunfire at the intersection of 7th and M streets NW. He died later that evening after being hospitalized. Multiple suspects exited a vehicle and opened fire on a group of people, injuring a woman and a 16-year-old boy, who survived. Authorities believe Tarpinian-Jachym was not the intended target.
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith stated the investigation involved collaboration with federal agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service, which assisted in Friday’s arrests. Cmdr. Kevin Kentish of the MPD’s Criminal Investigations Division revealed the suspects were involved in a “neighborhood crew dispute” and fired at two individuals riding a bike. One of those injured survived.
Tarpinian-Jachym had interned with the office of Rep. Ron Estes (R-KS) and previously served as a fellow with the Fund for American Studies. A friend, Phillip Petersen, called him a “good, smart Republican” and urged Congress to introduce the “Eric Jachym Act” to bolster police support in D.C.
Smith expressed condolences to Tarpinian-Jachym’s family, stating the arrests brought “some sense of peace.” Both Thomas Jr. and Lucas will face trial as adults.