A 21-year-old Republican congressional intern from the University of Massachusetts Amherst has been shot dead by multiple suspects on the streets of Washington, D.C.
Eric Tarpinian-Jachym was killed during what police are describing as a drive-by shooting that left two others injured.
Police are hunting for a group of suspects responsible for the attack.
Tarpinian-Jachym was interning for Rep. Ron Estes (R-KS).
He died on Tuesday after being struck by gunfire just after 10:28 p.m. in the 1200 block of 7th Street Northwest, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
Authorities say the shooting also wounded a 16-year-old male and an adult female, both of whom were hospitalized.
According to police, multiple suspects exited a vehicle and opened fire on a group of people.
Investigators have not confirmed whether Tarpinian-Jachym was the intended target.
Tarpinian-Jachym was a finance major and political science minor entering his senior year at UMass Amherst.
He was in the nation’s capital for a summer internship.
Tarpinian-Jachym was also participating in a spring fellowship through The Fund for American Studies and hailed from Aberdeen, Mississippi.
Rep. Estes released a statement Tuesday mourning the young man’s death.
“I will remember his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile,” Estes said.
“We are grateful to Eric for his service to Kansas’ 4th District and the country.
“Please join Susan and me in praying for his family and respecting their privacy during this heartbreaking time.”
Friends also spoke out about the loss.
Phillip Peterson, who met Tarpinian-Jachym earlier this year, told Fox News that he was “a very easy-going person to be around.”
“We met in early January and we really started to hit things off,” Peterson said.
“After the program, we discussed becoming roommates, but I didn’t want to move back to D.C. because I despise the culture so much.
“Unfortunately, that fell through.
“I legitimately do regret now not going back to D.C. just so I could have spent more time with my friend.”
The Metropolitan Police Department is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Anyone with information is urged to call (202) 727-9099.
The fatal shooting comes as Washington, D.C., continues to grapple with a surge in violent crime.
While homicide rates have slightly dipped in 2024, the city has seen a string of high-profile shootings, many involving young victims or bystanders caught in the crossfire.
Tarpinian-Jachym’s death adds another tragic entry to the city’s growing list of victims.
The shooting underscores ongoing concerns about public safety in the nation’s capital.
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