Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a 21-year-old congressional intern, was shot and killed in Washington D.C.
The young intern was a senior at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he majored in finance and minored in political science, ABC News reported.
He was working with the office of Kansas Representative Ron Estes when he was shot near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Monday evening.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, Tarpinian-Jachym was a victim of gunfire aimed at someone else.
They said multiple suspects exited a vehicle and opened fire on a group of people, shooting three individuals.
An unnamed woman and a 16-year-old boy were also injured during the drive-by shooting. They, along with Tarpinian-Jachym, were transported to the hospital where Tarpinian-Jachym succumbed to the injuries the day after. The woman and the boy are expected to recover fully.
Representative Ron Estes and his wife, Susan, extended their condolences to the Tarpinian-Jachym family.
“I will remember his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile,” the press release said. “We are grateful to Eric for his service to Kansas’ 4th District and the country.”
Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts also issued a statement regarding the tragic passing of the young intern.
“I was heartbroken to hear of the tragic shooting that took the life of Granby-native Eric Tarpinian-Jachym,” the statement read, according to WWLP. “A rising senior at UMass Amherst, Eric was in D.C. interning on Capitol Hill, pursuing his passion for public service. As a lecturer at UMass, I know firsthand the caliber of students who walk through those doors. Eric embodied what it means to be part of a community committed to learning, growth, and civic engagement.”
Further, Neal’s statement continued, “Any parent will tell you there is no greater pain than the pain of losing as a child. As a father, my thoughts and prayers are with Eric’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
The Metropolitan Police Department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that results in the arrest and conviction of those involved. Anyone with details is encouraged to call (202) 727-9099 or text 50411.
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