A 21-year-old intern in a congressman’s Washington office was fatally shot Monday in the city after gunmen opened fire on a group of people, authorities said.
Eric Tarpinian-Jachym was not the target of the shooters, who got out of a vehicle at 7th and M streets NW and started firing at around 10:28 p.m., the Metropolitan Police Department said.
Also hit were a woman and a 16-year-old boy, who survived, police said in a statement.
Tarpinian-Jachym was unconscious when first responders arrived, and he died at a hospital Tuesday, the police department said.
Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kan., said he and his wife, Susan, were sending their condolences.
Tarpinian-Jachym was a senior at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst who was majoring in finance with a minor in political science, Estes’ office said.
“I will remember his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile,” Estes said in a statement.
“We are grateful to Eric for his service to Kansas’ 4th District and the country,” he said. “Please join Susan and me in praying for his family and respecting their privacy during this heartbreaking time.”
The vehicle the shooters used has been found, police said, but no arrests have been announced. Police said “multiple suspects” fired at a group of people.
The police department said it is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to the arrests and convictions of those responsible. The department offers that reward for each homicide in the district.
