Police on Friday released mugshots of two teenage suspects arrested in the June killing of a congressional intern on Capitol Hill and said they are seeking a third alleged gunman.
Kelvin Thomas Jr. and Jailen Lucas, both 17, were taken into custody and are expected to be prosecuted as adults in the death of Eric Tarpinian‑Jachym, a 21‑year‑old University of Massachusetts Amherst student who was interning for Republican Rep. Ron Estes. The Metropolitan Police Department said the shooting occurred late on June 30 in a drive‑by attack roughly a mile from the White House.
Authorities said prosecutors will charge the teenagers as adults and that both have prior records that include violent‑crime allegations. A third suspect, identified by police as Naquon Lucas, has not been arrested and remains the subject of an active search.
Investigators believe Tarpinian‑Jachym was not the intended target and say he was caught in the middle of an ongoing dispute between rival groups in the District. Two other people — a 16‑year‑old boy and a woman — were wounded in the incident, and officers reported recovering a 9mm handgun and about 79 rounds of ammunition at the scene.
Tarpinian‑Jachym, a Massachusetts native who had been working on Capitol Hill, was reportedly on his way to get food when he was struck. In interviews following the killing, his mother described him as an innocent bystander and called for increased nighttime patrols in the city.
The shooting has drawn attention as part of broader discussions about public safety in Washington, where lawmakers and residents have debated how best to reduce violent crime. The fatality was cited by some officials who have pushed for increased federal assistance and policing in the District; others have urged local and federal authorities to coordinate more closely on prevention and enforcement efforts.
Local and federal investigators said the case remains under active inquiry. Police declined to release additional details about the arrests or the alleged roles of the three suspects, saying disclosures could jeopardize the ongoing investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia confirmed it will handle the prosecution of the arrested juveniles as adults.
Friends and colleagues of Tarpinian‑Jachym described him as ambitious and engaged in politics, and several called for reforms they said would prevent similar incidents. Officials urged anyone with information about the third suspect to contact police.
The arrests mark a key development in an investigation that has drawn national attention because of the victim’s role on Capitol Hill and the shooting’s proximity to the seat of federal government. Prosecutors and police said they will provide additional updates as the inquiry proceeds and as formal charges are filed.