Latest news with #RonEstes
CBS News
a day ago
- Politics
- CBS News
President Trump references slain UMass Congressional intern while announcing D.C. crime crackdown
While announcing that he is deploying members of the National Guard to Washington, D.C. and that the federal government has taken control of D.C. police, President Donald Trump referenced a University of Massachusetts student who was killed in a shooting this summer while working as a Congressional intern. Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a rising senior at UMass from Granby, died in a June 30 shooting. Police in D.C. said Tarpinian-Jachym was a bystander and not the intended target. Tarpinian-Jachym was interning for Kansas Rep. Ron Estes, a Republican. On Monday, Mr. Trump held a news conference about his plans to crack down on crime in the nation's capital. "I'm announcing a historic action to rescue our nation's capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse," Mr. Trump said at the White House. "This is liberation day in D.C., and we're going to take our capital back." During the briefing, the president referenced several recent cases of violence, including Tarpinian-Jachym's death. "In June, a 21-year-old Congressional intern was tragically killed after being hit by a stray bullet in a drive-by shooting," Trump said, though he did not reference Tarpinian-Jachym by name. White House officials said the National Guard was formally mobilized Monday, adding that members will be "flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week." Local police data indicates that violent crime in D.C. has been on the decline for about a year and a half after spiking in 2023. The Justice Department said violent crime in D.C. hit its lowest level in more than 30 years in 2024.
Fox News
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Mother of slain congressional intern says DC Council treats violent crime like a 'joke' amid unsolved killing
The mother of a congressional intern killed in a drive-by shooting one month ago harshly criticized the Washington, D.C., Council, saying its residents "are not being protected." According to the Metropolitan Police Department, Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a 21-year-old student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was shot June 30 at around 10:28 p.m. He died at an hospital July 1. Tarpinian-Jachym was in Washington, D.C., as an intern for Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kan. Police said the shooting, which didn't target Tarpinian-Jachym, also left a 16-year-old male and an adult female injured. As of Friday, no suspects are in custody. The shooting happened in the 1200 block of 7th Street, Northwest, near the Mt Vernon Sq 7th St-Convention Center Metro stop. Several people exited a car and began shooting, killing Tarpinian-Jachym. Eric's mother, Tamara Jachym, told Fox News Digital she feels the D.C. Council is treating violent crime like a "joke." "Your constituents are dying. They're getting killed and maimed. … This isn't OK. And it's not. I'm speaking for everybody. I'm angry that this is happening," Jachym said. "These people are not being protected. "The council needs to work with the federal government and stop this stuff and stop their pettiness. Get the money to hire the cops, to pay them the overtime, to get more people on the force. This isn't a joke anymore. People are getting killed. I don't care what color you are. I don't care if you have money or not." Jachym said Eric was an "old soul" who would often visit elderly people in his area. "He enjoyed people. He was really, he really liked older people, like, you know, elderly people. He would help them. He would stop by and talk to them. I think because he wanted to learn, like, knowledge-wise. He liked everybody, and it didn't matter where you came from, what your background was, if you were rich or poor or working class, if you had a disability," Jachym said. "He was just a good kid, and he loved life." Former homicide Det. Ted Williams told Fox News Digital arrests are harder to make in investigations such as this one, because police are starting from scratch. "Drive-by shootings are always very difficult to resolve. And, yet, there are a lot of individuals who know a great deal and who, and some of these individuals, these witnesses, actually know who the shooter or shooters are. But because of the intimidation factor here in the District of Columbia, you'll find that these individuals will remain silent," Williams said. Estes said in an earlier statement to Fox News Digital Tarpinian-Jachym would be remembered for his "kind heart." I will remember his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile," Estes said in a statement. "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." The FBI and Metropolitan Police Department are offering a $40,000 reward for anyone who provides information leading to an arrest and conviction and are encouraging them to contact 202-727-9099.
Fox News
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump pens letter to grieving mother of slain congressional intern: 'Held in my heart'
President Donald Trump sent a letter to the mother of a congressional intern who was killed in a Washington, D.C. shooting, saying he and Melania Trump are "heartbroken for your entire family." Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a 21-year-old student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was shot around 10:28 p.m. on June 30 and died on July 1, according to police. The Metropolitan Police Department said the shooting happened on the 1200 block of 7th Street, Northwest. Tarpinian-Jachym was in Washington, D.C., as an intern for Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kan. Police said an adult female and 16-year-old male were both shot but survived. No suspects are in custody, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. Several people exited a vehicle and fired shots at a group of people, including Tarpinian-Jachym. Tarpinian-Jachym wasn't the intended target of the shooting, they added. In a letter dated July 17 to the parents of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, the Trumps said they are devastated by the "senseless act of violence that took your beloved son." "While we may never fully understand the impact that Eric has had during his meaningful life, we know he will be remembered for his kindness, faithfulness, and devotion to your family and his many friends," Trump wrote. "He will also be remembered for his commitment to our country. I know how proud Congressman Estes was to have Eric represent his office, the people of Kansas' Fourth Congressional District, and our Nation." "Eric will be held in my heart, and I promise never to forget or forgive the terrible act that took him from us. Please know that my Administration will not stop fighting to clean up our streets and ensure law and order," Trump added. "May God hold Eric in His eternal love and care and provide you and your other incredible children, Angela and Jeremy, with abiding peace and unending strength." In an interview with Fox News Digital, Eric's mother, Tamara Jachym, said her son faced adversity in his life but always found a way to overcome it. "He had ambition because he had some adversity in his life. A lot of things have happened to him. And he did struggle initially, like he had severe dyslexia as a first-grader. He couldn't read or write, but boy, he could do it. He taught himself mathematics and how to play chess from YouTube," Jachym said. "He had some adversity issues, but I think he felt accepted in D.C. because he was bright and articulate, and he was always kind of flat-faced. When he smiled, you knew he meant it. It was genuine." The FBI and Metropolitan Police Department are offering a $40,000 reward for anyone who provides information leading to an arrest and conviction, and are encouraging them to contact (202) 727-9099.
CBS News
22-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
House to pilot program to increase security allowance to members
Washington — House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Tuesday a pilot program to raise the security allowance of members of the chamber until the end of September as lawmakers have faced increasing threats. It comes in the wake of the separate shootings of a congressional intern and two Minnesota state lawmakers and their spouses. Under Johnson's proposal, members of the House of Representatives will receive an additional $20,000 under the residential security allowance through the end of the fiscal year, or Sept. 30. Johnson also said the monitoring and maintenance allotment for the remainder of the fiscal year will be increased to $5,000 to be put toward personal security. Johnson said that at the end of September, he would evaluate "all the data points, see how effective it was, how it was utilized, and then make decisions going forward." "We live in an enhanced threat environment," Johnson told CBS News. "We mourn the death of this intern that Ron Estes had, that you know, has been in the news the last couple of days, just an unspeakable tragedy." Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, 21, an intern of Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas, was shot and killed in Washington, D.C., on June 30. Police said at the time that they did not believe Tarpinian-Jachym was the intended target of the shooting, but the shooting has rattled many on Capitol Hill. The announcement also comes after Johnson and Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries met last month in the wake of the shootings of Minnesota state lawmakers, Rep. Melissa Hortman and Sen. John Hoffman, and their spouses. Hortman and her husband were shot and killed in their home in the early hours of June 14, while Hoffman and his wife were shot and wounded roughly 5 miles away at their home. The FBI said the suspect, 57-year-old Vance Boelter, went to the homes of two other Minnesota lawmakers. Boelter has been charged with two counts of murder, two counts of stalking and two weapons charges. After the shootings, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also said he had asked Capitol Police to increase security for members of Congress. All members of Congress received a security briefing in the days following the shootings, and Schumer called it "more than a regional tragedy."Nikole Killion and Kaia Hubbard contributed to this report.
Fox News
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump responds to death of congressional intern: 'Eric will be held in my heart'
Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kan., and The Fund for American Studies President Roger Ream remember 21-year-old Eric Tarpinian-Jachym as a 'great person' and 'intelligent young man' and share details on the scholarship started in his name.
