Two Teens Charged, Third Sought in Murder of Capitol Hill Intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym

Washington, D.C. – Authorities have arrested two 17-year-old suspects, Jailen Lucas and Kelvin Thomas Jr., in connection with the June 30, 2025, shooting death of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a 21-year-old Capitol Hill intern from Granby, Massachusetts. A third suspect, 18-year-old Naqwan Antonio "Qwan" Lucas, remains at large, with police actively pursuing his arrest. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, led by Jeanine Pirro, announced that the two apprehended teens will be charged as adults with first-degree murder while armed, with additional charges expected following a grand jury review.

The tragic incident occurred near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center at the intersection of 7th and M streets NW, just one mile from the White House. According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), multiple suspects exited a stolen Acura SUV and opened fire on a group of people, targeting two teens on bicycles in what investigators described as an ongoing "neighborhood crew dispute." Tarpinian-Jachym, an innocent bystander, was struck by stray gunfire and shot four times. He was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries the following day. A woman and a 16-year-old boy were also injured in the shooting but survived.

Investigators identified the suspects through security camera footage, interviews, and assistance from a relative, recovering two rifles, a 9mm pistol, and 79 rounds at the scene. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro revealed that both Lucas and Thomas have prior violent juvenile records in family court, fueling her call for expanded authority to prosecute younger offenders as adults. “They don’t need to be protected; they need to be held accountable, and we need to be protected,” Pirro stated at a September 5 press conference, criticizing D.C. leadership for what she called lenient policies toward juvenile offenders.

Tarpinian-Jachym, a rising senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was majoring in finance with a minor in political science. He had been interning for Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.) for just one month and was part of the Fund for American Studies’ Washington Fellowship program. Described by Rep. Estes as a “kind and friendly presence” who greeted everyone with a smile, Tarpinian-Jachym was remembered for his dedication and bright future. His family highlighted his resilience, noting he overcame dyslexia, a heart condition, and recent surgery to secure the prestigious internship.

The arrests have drawn national attention, with FBI Director Kash Patel stating, “The murder of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym shook our nation’s capital, and today justice is moving forward.” Attorney General Pam Bondi added that, if convicted, the suspects “will face severe justice.” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser condemned the city’s gun violence but declined to comment on expanding juvenile prosecution, noting that current laws allow 17-year-olds to be charged as adults for serious crimes like murder.

Tarpinian-Jachym’s parents, Tamara and Robert, expressed gratitude to law enforcement in an emotional exchange with Pirro, with Tamara pleading for safer cities across America. “Eric didn’t deserve to be gunned down, and the system failed him,” she said. A $50,000 reward remains active for information leading to Naqwan Lucas’s arrest. The case, prosecuted locally, will not involve the death penalty, though President Donald Trump has previously suggested reinstating capital punishment in D.C. as part of his crime crackdown.

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