21-year-old congressional intern killed in Washington, DC shooting

A 21-year-old congressional intern was killed Monday night in a shooting in Northwest Washington, DC, that also left two others injured. 

The victim, identified as Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, had been interning in the office of Congressman Ron Estes of Kansas since June. Tarpinian-Jachym was a rising senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, studying finance with a minor in political science

According to a news release from the Metropolitan Police Department, officers responded around 10:28 pm to reports of gunfire in the 1200 block of 7th Street Northwest. Upon arrival, they found three individuals suffering from gunshot wounds, including an unconscious Tarpinian-Jachym, a woman, and a 16-year-old boy. All were transported to the hospital, where Tarpinian-Jachym was pronounced dead.

Police say their preliminary investigation indicates that multiple suspects exited a vehicle and opened fire into a crowd, according to a report by ABC News. Authorities believe Tarpinian-Jachym was not the intended target. The suspects' vehicle has not yet been recovered.

In a statement following the news of the intern’s death, Congressman Estes and his wife, Susan, said, “I will remember his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile.”

The statement continued, “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 Metropolitan Police Department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.