DC police have released mugshots of the two 17-year-old suspects arrested in connection with the June 30 shooting death of Capitol Hill intern Eric Tarpinian‑Jachym.
What We Know
Suspects and Charges
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The two individuals pictured are Kelvin Thomas Jr. and Jailen Lucas, both aged 17. They have been arrested and are being charged as adults with premeditated first-degree murder while armed.
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Incident Overview
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The victim, 21-year-old Eric Tarpinian‑Jachym, was struck by stray bullets during a drive-by shooting near Washington’s Mount Vernon Square/Convention Center on June 30. He died from his injuries the next day.
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He was an intern for Representative Ron Estes (R‑Kansas) and a rising senior at UMass Amherst.
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Two other individuals — a woman and a 16-year-old boy — were also injured in the shooting.
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Authorities believe the suspects fired into a group of people near a location where two others were riding bikes. Investigators determined the goal was not to kill Tarpinian‑Jachym, who was an innocent bystander.
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Third Suspect at Large
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A third suspect, Naqwan Antonio Lucas, age 18, remains wanted on similar premeditated first-degree murder charges. Law enforcement agencies are actively searching for him.
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A reward of up to $50,000 has been released for information leading to his arrest.
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Legal and Public Reaction
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U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro emphasized that Tarpinian‑Jachym was “an innocent bystander” and used the case to call for stronger powers to prosecute violent minors as adults.
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D.C. officials, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and MPD Chief Pamela Smith, reiterated their commitment to accountability and public safety, while expressing condolences to the victim’s family.
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