Justice Sought for Capitol Hill Intern’s Tragic Death
Two 17-year-old suspects, Kelvin Thomas Jr. and Jailen Lucas, have been arrested and charged as adults with premeditated first-degree murder while armed in connection with the fatal shooting of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a 21-year-old University of Massachusetts Amherst student and intern for Rep. Ron Estes. The tragic incident occurred on June 30, about a mile from the White House, leaving Tarpinian-Jachym dead and two others injured – a woman and a 16-year-old boy. Authorities believe Tarpinian-Jachym was not the intended target, as multiple suspects opened fire on a group of people.
Search Continues for Third Suspect
Despite the arrests, police are still searching for Naqwan Antonio Lucas, 18, of Granby, Massachusetts, who is wanted on a D.C. Superior Court warrant for premeditated first-degree murder while armed. A $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his capture, courtesy of the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the U.S. Marshals Service. It’s unclear if Naqwan Lucas and Jailen Lucas are related, and officials haven’t confirmed whether Naqwan Lucas has a prior criminal record.
Community Seeks Justice
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro has assured that the suspects will face severe justice if convicted, expressing condolences to Tarpinian-Jachym’s family. Rep. Estes remembered Tarpinian-Jachym as a “dedicated and thoughtful and kind person who loved our country”. The community is urged to provide any information on Naqwan Lucas’ whereabouts, while authorities work to bring closure to Tarpinian-Jachym’s family.
