Kelvin Thomas Jr,Jalen Lucas Arrested; – Two teenagers have been apprehended in relation to the death of a college student from Massachusetts, who was fatally shot in a triple shooting incident in Washington, D.C., earlier this summer.

Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a 21-year-old student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a native of Granby, was serving as a congressional intern on Capitol Hill when he was tragically shot in the vicinity of the 1200 block of 7th Street in the northwest part of the city on the evening of June 30.

During a news conference held on Friday in the nation’s capital, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro characterized the young man’s death as “senseless.”
“He was struck four times. The scene involved two rifles, one 9mm, and 79 rounds scattered on the ground,” Pirro stated regarding Tarpinian-Jachym’s demise. “He was an innocent bystander caught in a violent act that was not intended for him.”
A woman and a 16-year-old boy were also injured in the shooting, but they are anticipated to recover.

Tarpinian-Jachym was interning for Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas. Kelvin Thomas Jr. and Jalen Lucas, both aged 17, are facing charges in adult court for first-degree murder while armed, as reported by Pirro.
“These juveniles have prior violent records in the family court,” Pirro remarked concerning Thomas Jr. and Lucas. “These are not mere children; they are criminals, violent criminals.”

The Metropolitan Police Department continues to pursue a third juvenile suspect, according to Pirro.
Following his death, Rep. Ron Estes released a statement that expressed, “I will remember his kind heart and how he always welcomed anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile. We are thankful to Eric for his service to Kansas’ 4th District and the nation. Please join Susan and me in praying for his family and respecting their privacy during this tragic time.”

“Eric didn’t deserve to be shot down,” Pirro stated. “It is already tragic to be shot down on any street. To be shot down in our nation’s capital is an

“He was a very kind, gentle soul, and he was a very humble boy,” Tamara Tarpinian-Jachym said at the time of her son’s death. His sister, Angela Tarpinian-Jachym, said she’s unsure if her family will ever heal from the loss of her brother.

“It’s a horrible loss, and I don’t know if we will ever recover,” she said. “We will just learn to cope and move on day by day, but the pain will always be there.” Family members say Tarpinian-Jachym was a rising college senior who was neurodiverse. He had overcome dyslexia, a heart condition, and a recent surgery to land a coveted spring internship with the Fund for American Studies, then a congressional summer internship.

His mother says her son’s favorite pastime was fishing, especially with his dad and brother. She also said he was thrilled to be in D.C., learning about democracy and contributing to the American political experience.

“He was a remarkable young man who had really gone through a lot and was very happy in this next stage of his life, and it’s just sad that it’s been taken away from him in a violent crime,” Tarpinian-Jachym’s mother added.

President Donald Trump mentioned Eric’s case during a press conference in August as he announced his National Guard takeover of policing in Washington, D.C., to combat rising crime rates.

Trump’s federal move has been heavily criticized across the nation and in D.C. since, but Eric’s family applauded the heightened security, hoping the move prevents tragedies down the line.