Tragedy struck near the heart of our nation’s capital when a young congressional intern was gunned down in a senseless act of violence, and now two teenagers face justice for their alleged role in the crime, according to the New York Post.
In a shocking case that underscores the urgent need for tougher crime policies in Washington, D.C., two 17-year-olds, Jalen Lucas and Kelvin Thomas Jr., have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 21-year-old Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, with a third suspect still on the loose.
The incident unfolded on June 30 in a drive-by shooting roughly a mile northeast of the White House, a stone’s throw from where lawmakers debate the very policies meant to keep our streets safe.
Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a rising senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an intern for Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas, was tragically caught in the crossfire while simply going about his day.
Authorities allege that the gunmen unleashed a staggering 79 rounds from rifles and a handgun, targeting a rival from a so-called “neighborhood crew” on a bike, but instead struck innocent bystanders like Eric, who was not the intended victim.
The young intern succumbed to his injuries the following day, July 1, leaving behind a grieving family and a city grappling with yet another heartbreaking loss to violent crime.
The shooting occurred at an intersection near the Washington Convention Center and a Metro station, in an area dotted with public housing where violent crime rates often run higher than in other parts of the district.
Police, after painstakingly reviewing hundreds of hours of surveillance footage, identified Lucas and Thomas as suspects who allegedly fled the scene in a stolen vehicle, showing a callous disregard for the chaos they left behind.
DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the charges on Friday, emphasizing that both teens will be tried as adults under DC law, though they are not eligible for the death penalty despite calls from some, including President Trump, for harsher punishments.
Pirro didn’t hold back in her assessment, declaring, “Eric didn’t deserve to be gunned down, and the system failed him.” Her words cut to the core of a broken approach that too often prioritizes leniency over accountability for young offenders.
She went on to argue, “The DC Council thinks that these kids need to be protected. They don’t need to be protected.” It’s hard to disagree when innocent lives like Eric’s are snuffed out by reckless violence that progressive policies seem ill-equipped to deter.
Pirro also pressed for change, stating, “We’re going to need Congress to change the law.” Her call to shift juvenile cases to criminal court isn’t just rhetoric—it’s a plea to stop the revolving door of rehabilitation that fails to reform.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser echoed Pirro’s stance, noting that cold-blooded murder warrants adult consequences for 17-year-olds, a rare moment of agreement in a city often divided on how to handle crime.
Meanwhile, President Trump has ramped up federal resources in D.C., deploying agents and National Guard members following this tragedy and another high-profile assault, while touting the seizure of nearly 200 illegal firearms as evidence of progress in a broader crime crackdown.
Yet, as other unsolved cases like the 2022 murder of Dr. Rakesh Patel linger despite ample surveillance, one wonders if even these efforts can fully stem the tide of violence in a capital city where safety should be paramount, not a partisan talking point.
