Congressional intern fatally shot in D.C., reward offered for information on shooter

A 21-year-old Congressional intern was gunned down in a targeted shooting in Washington, D.C., leaving a nation stunned. Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a rising senior at UMass Amherst, lost his life in a senseless act of violence that exposes the capital’s spiraling crime problem. This tragedy demands answers, not excuses.

Fox News reported that on Monday night, around 10:28 p.m., Tarpinian-Jachym was shot on the 1200 block of 7th Street, Northwest, alongside an adult female and a 16-year-old male, with the latter two surviving and receiving hospital treatment.

The Metropolitan Police Department reports multiple suspects exited a car and opened fire on a group, with Tarpinian-Jachym tragically caught in the crossfire, not the intended target. This brazen attack underscores the urgent need for law and order in a city plagued by progressive policies that coddle criminals.

Tarpinian-Jachym, a finance major with a political science minor, was interning for Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.) and had participated in a fellowship with The Fund for American Studies.

Hailing from Aberdeen, Mississippi, he was described as a bright, kind-hearted young man with a promising future. Yet, D.C.’s unchecked violence snuffed out his potential, a grim reminder of what happens when soft-on-crime agendas take root.

Promising Life Cut Short

“I will remember his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile,” Rep. Estes said.

Such praise rings hollow when D.C.’s streets remain a battleground, where even interns serving their country aren’t safe. Conservatives know that platitudes don’t stop bullets—strong policing does.

Tarpinian-Jachym succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday, leaving behind grieving family and friends. The police are offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, urging tipsters to call (202) 727-9099. But rewards alone won’t fix a city where lawlessness festers under misguided leadership.

Phillip Peterson, a friend, called Tarpinian-Jachym “a very easy-going person to be around.” Peterson’s words paint a picture of a young man who brought joy to those around him, not conflict. Yet, D.C.’s failure to crack down on violent crime turned his friendliness into a footnote in a tragedy.

“We met in early January and we really started to hit things off,” Peterson recalled. He lamented not moving to D.C. to room with Tarpinian-Jachym, saying, “I legitimately do regret now not going back to D.C. just so I could have spent more time with my friend.” Heartbreaking, but it’s the city’s leadership, not Peterson’s choices, that bears the blame for this loss.

The shooting wasn’t random; police say it was targeted, though Tarpinian-Jachym was an innocent bystander.

This distinction offers little comfort when D.C.’s crime wave spares no one, from interns to locals. Conservative values of personal responsibility and public safety could restore order, but woke policies keep winning instead.

Rep. Estes also noted, “We are grateful to Eric for his service to Kansas’ 4th District and the country.” Gratitude is fine, but it’s time for lawmakers to demand accountability from D.C.’s leaders who let chaos reign. Eric’s service deserved better than a eulogy.

Crime Crisis in D.C.

The injured victims, an adult female and a 16-year-old male, are recovering, but their survival doesn’t erase the trauma of this attack.

D.C.’s soaring violent crime rates—up 39% in recent years—reflect a failure of progressive governance that prioritizes ideology over safety. Conservatives aren’t surprised, but they’re fed up.

Tarpinian-Jachym’s death isn’t just a statistic; it’s a call to action. The Metropolitan Police Department’s reward is a start, but without systemic change, it’s just tossing cash at a broken system. Real solutions mean tougher sentencing and more cops on the beat, not more social workers.

Peterson’s regret over not rooming with Tarpinian-Jachym highlights the personal toll of this tragedy. “I didn’t want to move back to D.C. because I despise the culture so much,” he said.

His disdain echoes what many feel about a city where woke priorities let violence flourish unchecked.

Estes urged prayers for Tarpinian-Jachym’s family, saying, “Please join Susan and me in praying for his family and respecting their privacy during this heartbreaking time.” Prayer is vital, but so is policy that protects the innocent from becoming collateral damage. D.C.’s leaders must stop dodging responsibility.

The 1200 block of 7th Street, Northwest, is now a crime scene, but it’s also a symbol of a city in decline. Tarpinian-Jachym’s death should galvanize conservatives to push for law-and-order reforms, not just in D.C., but nationwide. Enough is enough.