Congressional Intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym Fatally Shot in Washington, D.C.

Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a 21-year-old congressional intern, was tragically shot and killed in Washington, D.C., earlier this week. The young man was a rising senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he majored in finance and minored in political science, ABC News reported.

Tarpinian-Jachym was interning with the office of Kansas Representative Ron Estes at the time of the incident. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, he was shot near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Monday evening during a drive-by shooting that was reportedly aimed at someone else.

Police stated that multiple suspects exited a vehicle and opened fire on a group of people, striking three individuals. Tarpinian-Jachym was among the victims, along with an unnamed woman and a 16-year-old boy.

All three victims were transported to a local hospital. While the woman and the teenage boy are expected to make a full recovery, Tarpinian-Jachym succumbed to his injuries the following day.

The loss has prompted an outpouring of grief from colleagues and public officials. Representative Ron Estes and his wife, Susan, issued a heartfelt statement following the intern’s death.

“I will remember his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile,” the statement read. “We are grateful to Eric for his service to Kansas’ 4th District and the country.”

Massachusetts Representative Richard Neal, who also serves as a lecturer at UMass Amherst, shared a personal statement mourning the young man’s death.

“I was heartbroken to hear of the tragic shooting that took the life of Granby-native Eric Tarpinian-Jachym,” Rep. Neal said, according to WWLP. “A rising senior at UMass Amherst, Eric was in D.C. interning on Capitol Hill, pursuing his passion for public service. As a lecturer at UMass, I know firsthand the caliber of students who walk through those doors. Eric embodied what it means to be part of a community committed to learning, growth, and civic engagement.”

Neal’s statement continued, “Any parent will tell you there is no greater pain than the pain of losing a child. As a father, my thoughts and prayers are with Eric’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

The Metropolitan Police Department is actively investigating the incident and has offered a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the department by calling (202) 727-9099 or by texting 50411.