Latest news with #Tarpinian-Jachym
4 hours ago
- Politics
Hunt on for gunman who killed congressional intern in DC
Federal authorities are assisting D.C. police in investigating the shooting death of a 21-year-old congressional intern who was killed by a stray bullet in the District, the Metropolitan Police Department said Thursday. The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are helping in the investigation as police search for the suspect who shot Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, of Granby, Massachusetts, on Monday night near the intersection of 7th and M Street. Investigators said they recovered the suspect vehicle and stated that while the shooting was targeted, Tarpinian-Jachym was not among the intended victims. A woman and a 16-year-old boy were also shot in the incident. The woman is in stable condition and the juvenile is believed to have been involved with the group that opened fire, according to police. He remains hospitalized with injuries. D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith told reporters on Thursday, "We do have some good video footage, and I say good video footage that's a little grainy, so we're bringing in the FBI to kind of help enhance the video solution so we can see a little bit better." Police told reporters they have recovered the black Acura in a nearby jurisdiction that they were searching for in connection with this shooting. They are also working with the FBI to enhance the video and with the ATF on ballistics analysis. Smith described the shooting as "a tragedy," and "something that we don't ever want to happen in our city." "We believe that the two groups had an altercation that did not result initially in gunfire. But what we do know is that at the location in the 1200 block of Seventh Street, northwest, is where the exchange of where the gunfire took place," Smith said. She added that D.C. police have not yet recovered a weapon. Tarpinian-Jachym, who had been serving as an intern for Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas 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.
Axios
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Axios
Police, FBI scrutinizing video footage of Capitol Hill intern's shooting
No arrests have been made in the shooting death of a Capitol Hill intern, but police have recovered a black Acura in the suburbs and are analyzing video camera footage from the scene, D.C. police chief Pamela Smith said Thursday. The big picture: The death of 21-year-old Eric Tarpinian-Jachym — who police say was an innocent bystander caught in crossfire — got the attention of federal officials after Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.) announced his killing on Wednesday evening. Driving the news: D.C. police are working with ATF and the FBI, which is helping enhance "grainy" video footage in the hopes of releasing images to the public, Smith said. Two groups had an altercation near the scene on Monday. It escalated into gunfire at 7th and M streets NW outside of the Mt Vernon Square/Convention Center Metro stop around 10:30pm. Two others shot — a woman and a 16-year-old boy — were taken to the hospital with injuries, police said. Tarpinian-Jachym died on Tuesday. A vehicle linked to the suspects was found in a "neighboring jurisdiction," Smith said. Detectives are studying footage to identify any weapons used, none of which have been recovered yet, Smith said. What they're saying:"It is our pledge to bring whoever is responsible to justice," Mayor Muriel Bowser said at a press conference Thursday. Zoom out: Tarpinian-Jachym's killing is the 85th homicide so far this year, and the tragedy has the potential to focus more congressional attention on the management of the District.
Boston Globe
6 hours ago
- Boston Globe
‘The brightest future:' Friends remember UMass Amherst senior killed in D.C. shooting
The woman and teenager are expected to survive the attack, police said. Tarpinian-Jachym was taken to a hospital, where he died on Tuesday, authorities said. Police said Tarpinian-Jachym was on the street when a group of people jumped out of a car and opened fire. Advertisement 'The preliminary investigation indicates that multiple suspects exited a vehicle at the intersection of 7th and M Street, Northwest and began firing at a group,' police wrote. 'Detectives believe the decedent was not the intended target of the shooting.' Tarpinian-Jachym, a Granby, Mass., resident, graduated from Pope Francis Preparatory School in Springfield and was seeking a degree in finance with a minor in political science at UMass Amherst. He began interning in the office of Rep. Ron Estes, a Kansas Republican, in June. 'I still really can't believe it, because of just how vividly I can remember him,' Burg said. 'If there was anyone that I would say had the brightest future that I've ever seen, it was that kid.' The pair met in February at Advertisement 'We were so similar,' Burg said. 'He really cared. He always cheered you up.' The leadership of the Fund for American Studies said in a statement they are heartbroken by Tarpinian-Jachym's death. 'The Fund for American Studies is heartbroken at the tragic and untimely death of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym. Eric was one of a select group of students who participated in the Washington Fellowship held January-April 2025,' the non-profit's leadership said in a statement. 'He was a hardworking intern, a dedicated student and was well thought of by his peers. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.' Burg remembers one night in the spring after a dinner of sushi, Tarpinian-Jachym, who never runs, suggested they run home. Burg queued up the best song for the moment: the Rocky theme song, 'Gonna Fly Now' by Bill Conti. 'The best part was running up a hill with someone I've never seen run in my life, somehow outpace me, to Rocky Balboa music, and then just talk about life and family and and God,' Burg said. Despite their short friendship, Burg knew Tarpinian-Jachym was 'special.' 'It hurts when although I didn't know him for that long, you bond that much and you spend hundreds of hours together, he was the guy I relied on,' Burg said. 'He was the guy that that I spoke to about my problems.' Burg, who is from Florida, said he told Tarpinian-Jachym to go home to his family in Massachusets and 'enjoy' the summer, but Tarpinian-Jachym was 'dedicated.' Advertisement 'He wanted to work so hard and just get ahead in the future,' Burg said. 'It was inspiring.' Now, Burg wishes he had gone home. 'Maybe we would have known each other and our kids for the next 60 or 50 years,' Burg said. The pair had planned for Tarpinian-Jachym to visit Burg in Florida after his internship. Lily Myers, 21, was also in the fellowship program with Burg and Tarpinian-Jachym, and said Tarpinian-Jachym was 'charismatic.' 'Eric was just one of the people that stood out in our program,' she said. 'He got along with everybody. He was always really fun to be around.' Myers also is working in D.C. as an intern at the National Retail Federation, and she said she knew 'how much [Tarpinian-Jachym] wanted to come back and intern in DC this summer.' 'For that to have happened while he was one month into a congressional internship is just horrific,' Myers said. 'Eric was very smart and had a bright future ahead of him, and we expected that to happen.' Myers found out about the violence while leaving her internship, not far from where the shooting happened. She said she's 'shaken up' because the metro stop is on her line, and she briefly considered returning home to North Carolina. 'I tried not to let this horrible incident deter me... but it definitely made me rethink where I go in the city,' Myers said. A vehicle police believe was used in the shooting was recovered, officials said. No arrests have been made, but police have offered a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest of Tarpinian-Jachym's killer or killers. Advertisement Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith 'It's such a tragic loss of a young man who's in our city conducting, being a part of something that I think is profound for most young people. Interning at a U.S. House of Representatives office is a big deal,' she told the station. 'We want people to put the guns down. Innocent bystander, a young lady who was also shot in addition to Eric,. Unacceptable in all ways, shape, forms of fashion.' In 'We are grateful to Eric for his service to Kansas' 4th District and the country,' Estes said. 'Please join Susan and me in praying for his family and respecting their privacy during this heartbreaking time.' A spokesperson for UMass Amherst said university officials were aware of 'a student's death in Washington, D.C. and is in communication with the student's family.' They did not identify Tarpinian-Jachym. 'We extend our deepest condolences to all who knew him and will be communicating with the campus shortly to offer support,' the school said. Representative Richard E. Neal, whose Western Massachusetts district includes Granby, said he was 'heartbroken' by Tarpinian-Jachym's death. As an intern on Capitol Hill, he was 'pursuing his passion for public service,' Neal said in a statement. Advertisement Tarpinian-Jachym's family could not be reached Thursday. Burg, the friend from the fellowship, said Tarpinian-Jachym 'knew what he wanted with his career.' He wanted to work on Capitol Hill, Burg said, and that was exactly what he was doing. 'He would be saying to live your life to the fullest, and do everything,' Burg said. Information from earlier Globe reporting was used in this posting. John R. Ellement of the Globe Staff contributed to this report. Ava Berger can be reached at
American Military News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- American Military News
Pic: Congressional intern fatally shot in DC
A congressional intern was shot and killed on Monday night in Washington, D.C., after 'multiple suspects' exited a vehicle and fired at a group of people. In a Wednesday press release, the Metropolitan Police Department said law enforcement officials responded to 'the sound of gunshots' in the 1200 block of 7th Street, Northwest. After arriving at the scene, officials found an adult male unconscious, as well as an adult female and 16-year-old male who were 'conscious and breathing' after 'suffering from gunshot wounds.' The three victims were quickly transported to local hospitals. The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that the adult victim died from his injuries on Tuesday after 'all lifesaving measures failed.' 'The preliminary investigation indicates that multiple suspects exited a vehicle at the intersection of 7th and M Street, Northwest and began firing at a group,' the Metropolitan Police Department stated. 'The suspect vehicle has been recovered. Detectives believe the decedent was not the intended target of the shooting.' The 21-year-old victim was identified as Eric Tarpinian-Jachym. The office of Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.) confirmed on Wednesday that the victim was an intern for Estes and was a 'rising senior' at the University of Massachusetts with a major in finance and a minor in political science. READ MORE: Video/Pic: 2 Israeli diplomats shot, killed in DC by pro-Palestinian suspect 'I will remember his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile,' Estes stated. '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.' In Wednesday's press release, the Metropolitan Police Department offered a reward of $25,000 for anyone who provided information leading to both the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for Tarpinian-Jachym's death. Phillip Peterson, a friend of Tarpinian-Jachym, told Fox News that the congressional intern was 'a very easy-going person to be around.' 'We met in early January and we really started to hit things off. 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,' Peterson told Fox News. '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.' A picture of Tarpinian-Jachym was shared on X, formerly Twitter, by the Massachusetts Republican Party. A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Republican Party noted that the loss of Tarpinian-Jachym was a 'loss for Massachusetts and our nation.' 'His family is now without its son, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst will be missing a promising young graduate from its Class of 2026,' the state GOP spokesperson said. 'The Massachusetts Republican Party extends its deepest sorrows to his family and the office of Rep. Ron Estes (R-KS), all of whom are mourning the passing of this bright and talented young man.' State Committeeman Chris Ryan on behalf of the Massachusetts Republican Party: "The loss of DC Congressional student intern and Granby resident Eric Tarpinian-Jachym is a loss for Massachusetts and our nation. His family is now without its son, and the University of… — MassGOP (@massgop) July 3, 2025
The Hill
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Congressional intern killed in DC shooting
A 21-year-old intern working in Rep. Ron Estes's office was shot and killed in Northwest Washington, D.C. on Monday night, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the Kansas Republican confirmed. University of Massachusetts-Amherst student Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, who started his Capitol Hill internship last month, is thought to have been an innocent bystander walking down the street when he was fatally shot by unidentified assailants near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. According to law enforcement officials, multiple suspects got out of a vehicle near the intersection of 7th and M streets and opened fire on a group of people at around 10:28 p.m., striking Tarpinian-Jachym, an adult female and a 16-year-old male. The other two victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries. '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 requesting privacy for Tarpinian-Jachym's family. 'We are grateful to Eric for his service to Kansas' 4th District and the country.' Authorities have recovered the vehicle involved in the shooting, and detectives do not believe Tarpinian-Jachym was the intended target of the ambush, MPD said. The police department said in a news release that it is seeking information from the public but provided no additional information about potential suspects. MPD didn't immediately respond to The Hill's request for an update on the investigation on Thursday. Tarpinian-Jachym's death was the 85th homicide in D.C. this year, according to MPD's crime reporting system — down slightly from the same point a year ago. Overall, violent crime has been down about 25 percent this year compared to 2024.
