A 21-year-old congressional intern was reportedly fatally wounded in a shooting Monday night in the nation’s capital, a tragedy that has sparked grief on Capitol Hill and renewed calls to address out of control crime in the liberal city.
Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a University of Massachusetts Amherst student, was walking near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center when multiple gunmen opened fire into a crowd.
Police say the shooters emerged from a vehicle around 10:30 p.m. and began shooting indiscriminately. Tarpinian-Jachym was not believed to be the intended target.
He was critically injured and later died at a local hospital. Two others — a woman and a 16-year-old boy — were also wounded and are expected to recover.
The shooting occurred just blocks from some of the city’s busiest downtown corridors. Law enforcement has recovered the suspects’ vehicle in nearby Prince George’s County, Maryland, but no arrests have been made.
A $25,000 reward is being offered for information leading to those responsible.
Going backwards on crime is 'not an option': NYPD Chief of Department John Chell pic.twitter.com/Nd4miLrrG4
— Mornings with Maria (@MorningsMaria) July 2, 2025
Tarpinian-Jachym had recently begun an internship in the office of Representative Ron Estes, Republican of Kansas. Colleagues described him as dedicated, thoughtful, and full of promise.
In a statement, Estes called the intern “a kind and cheerful young man who made an impression on everyone he met.”
The incident marks the latest in a string of shootings that have plagued D.C. this year, further intensifying concern over public safety as violent crime remains stubbornly high in several parts of the city. Monday’s killing is the 85th homicide in the district this year.
Police Chief Pamela A. Smith condemned the violence and emphasized that the department is devoting significant resources to the investigation. “This young man came to our city to learn and serve,” she said. “His life should not have ended this way.”
JUST IN: Intern for U.S. Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kan.), 21-year-old Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, killed in Washington, D.C. triple-shooting
Police do not believe he was an intended target. pic.twitter.com/56c2gPnJ9D
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 3, 2025
The University of Massachusetts Amherst expressed condolences to Tarpinian-Jachym’s family and said support services are being made available to students and faculty.
A memorial is being planned to honor his life and public service aspirations.
In Congress, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle paused to remember the young intern, with several urging renewed attention to community safety initiatives.
Authorities continue to seek information from the public and are reviewing surveillance footage in hopes of identifying the gunmen. Investigators believe the suspects targeted someone else in the crowd, but stress the urgency of bringing the shooters to justice.
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