A 21-year-old congressional intern was shot Monday night after getting caught in targeted gunfire in Northwest Washington, D.C., police said.
Police and congressional officials identified the victim as Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, of Granby, Massachusetts, who died Tuesday after being shot near the intersection of 7th and M Street.
Investigators have recovered the suspect vehicle and stated that while the shooting was targeted, Tarpinian-Jachym was not among the intended victims.
Tarpinian-Jachym, who had been serving as an intern for Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.) since June, was a rising senior at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he was majoring in finance with a minor in political science.
According to D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith, the incident began with an altercation between two groups that escalated into gunfire in the 1200 block of Seventh Street, Northwest.
The shooting, which occurred around 10:28 p.m. Monday, left three people wounded: Tarpinian-Jachym, who was found unconscious; a woman, who is now in stable condition; and a 16-year-old male who police believe was involved with the group that opened fire, police said. The teenager remains hospitalized.
The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are now assisting in the investigation. Police have recovered a black Acura in a nearby jurisdiction connected to the shooting, and the FBI is working to enhance surveillance footage from the scene. The ATF is conducting ballistics analysis.
Rep. Estes and his wife, Susan, released a statement expressing their condolences to the Tarpinian-Jachym family.
“I will remember his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile,” Estes said in a press release. “We are grateful to Eric for his service to Kansas’ 4th District and the country.”
Estes has represented the Kansas 4th Congressional District since 2017 and currently serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, Budget Committee, and Joint Economic Committee, and chairs the Social Security Subcommittee.
The Metropolitan Police Department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Anyone with information is urged to contact police at (202) 727-9099 or text tips to 50411.
