21-Year-Old Congressional Intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym Dies After Street Incident in Washington DC

Police are still piecing together evidence from the scene of the shooting and are urging the public to come forward with any information that could aid the investigation.

Eric Tarpinian-Jachym of Granby, Massachusetts, was fatally shot Monday night, June 30, in Washington, D.C. His loss has deeply affected his mother, while friends and colleagues have remembered him as kind-hearted, ambitious, and full of promise.

The congressional intern was walking near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center downtown, just before 10:30 p.m. on June 30 when multiple suspects exited a vehicle and opened fire on a group of people.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department, officers nearby responded to the sound of gunfire and found three individuals with gunshot wounds—an adult woman, a 16-year-old boy, and Tarpinian-Jachym, who was unconscious.

All three were transported to area hospitals, but Tarpinian-Jachym succumbed to his injuries the following day, on July 1. Police believe the young man was not the intended target of the shooting.

The suspects' vehicle has been recovered, and an investigation remains underway. Tarpinian-Jachym's death marks the 85th homicide in the District this year.

Authorities urge anyone with information about the shooting to contact the police at (202) 727-9099 or text a tip to 50411. A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in connection with the case.

Tarpinian-Jachym's loved ones are mourning a life cut tragically short. His mother, Tamara Tarpinian-Jachym, declined to speak in detail, overwhelmed with emotion. "There's nothing to say," she said through tears.

The deceased was a rising senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, majoring in finance with a minor in political science. He was interning for Representative Ron Estes, who serves Kansas' Fourth Congressional District, at the time of his death.

Estes is grateful for Tarpinian-Jachym's service to his district, noting, "I will remember his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile."

Emily Gest, head of media relations at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, confirmed the institution was in contact with his family. "We extend our deepest condolences to all who knew him and will be communicating with the campus shortly to offer support," she penned in an email.

Friends and colleagues who knew Tarpinian-Jachym described him as warm, ambitious, and full of promise. Phillip Petersen, who met him earlier this year through the Fund for American Studies, recalled their shared experiences in D.C., from trivia nights to deep conversations about life and future goals. Tarpinian-Jachym wanted to work in finance.

"He was a lot taller than me," Petersen said with a smile, remembering a photo from the White House garden tour in April. Their last conversation was a text exchange where Tarpinian-Jachym suggested they become roommates. Petersen, who had since left the city, never responded.

"I don't regret not coming to D.C., but I regret not becoming his roommate," shared Petersen.

Now, as police continue investigating the triple shooting that claimed Tarpinian-Jachym’s life, another high-profile case made progress with an arrest. On May 21, 2025, two Israeli Embassy staffers were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., and authorities have since taken the suspect into custody.

Before his arrest, the alleged gunman, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, Illinois, remained at the scene, posing as a bystander and even accepting help from event attendees. Authorities believe he acted alone.

The shooting occurred shortly after an American Jewish Committee event ended around 9 p.m. The suspect was observed pacing outside the museum before he approached a group of four people, pulled out a handgun, and opened fire, according to Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

"After the shooting, the suspect then entered the museum and was detained by event security. Once in handcuffs, the suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered, and he implied that he committed the offense. The suspect chanted, 'Free, free Palestine,' while in custody," noted Chief Smith.

According to Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the U.S., the victims were a couple, and one had recently purchased a ring with plans to propose in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, several eyewitnesses have provided disturbing accounts of the suspect's behavior before and after the shooting. Sara Marinuzzi, 28, who attended the event, told CNN that the suspect waited with attendees and pretended to be a bystander.

"There were some more shots, and then a guy came running into the center, and the security guards offered him water, trying to comfort him. He was kind of having erratic behavior. They figured he witnessed the shooting," she said. "I did it, I did it for Gaza. Free Palestine!"

Another eyewitness, Jojo Kalin, who organized the event and is a board member of the American Jewish Committee, recounted her encounter with the suspect. Kalin did not witness the shooting but interacted with the man inside the building, noting that he appeared "very distraught" afterward.

"At that point, there was some frenzy and some commotion. The security started locking the doors, and a friend of mine said they let someone in off the street," Kalin shared.

"He seemed very distressed, so I assumed he was a witness to it, and I offered him water. He said, 'Yes.' I went to get him water. The moment I handed him the glass of water, he then whipped out a red Jordanian keffiyeh and said, 'Free Palestine.' And then the security ran in, subdued him. They didn't tackle him, but they got him outside," she recounted.

Kalin emphasized that she never saw a weapon and only later learned that two people had been killed. "I feel guilty that the people were only here on account of our event. I'm confused as to how, of all the people he could have picked, he found the Israeli embassy workers. It's clearly a targeted anti-semitic attack, like you're coming to a Jewish museum."

Speaking to the BBC, Kalin expressed sorrow and guilt despite not knowing the victims. "I didn't know the couple who were shot but I do feel a sense of guilt, and it's a very uniquely Jewish thing to feel guilty for the fact that they were there because of an event I organised and then feeling guilty about my guilt when I shouldn't be centering myself when people's lives were just lost."

She explained that the event itself focused on peace and coalition-building efforts. "I'm not going to lose my humanity over this or be deterred. And that Israelis and Palestinians both still deserve self determination and [it is] just deeply ironic that that's what we were discussing. It was bridge building and then we were all hit over the head with such hatred."

Eyewitness Paige Siegel told CNN she unknowingly spoke to the suspect after the shooting. "I went up to him and asked if he was okay as he muttered call the police again and again. He said he was okay. Then I asked if he was shot, he said he wasn't," Siegel recalled.

Siegel further expressed, "He was so shaken when I spoke to him that he seemed harmless. Obviously I didn't know at the time." She added that once the police arrived, he was apprehended while yelling "Free Palestine!"

Reflecting on the experience, Siegel said, "Here we are, a bunch of Jews lumped in one room for him to pick us off. The terrorist sat on a bench, amongst us."

Israeli officials responded quickly following the deadly shooting. Tal Naim Cohen, a spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, shared on X that the victims were embassy staff members who were shot at close range during a Jewish event at the Capital Jewish Museum.

She expressed the embassy's strong trust in both local and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate the crime thoroughly and ensure the safety of Israeli personnel and Jewish communities throughout the United States.

Meanwhile, President Isaac Herzog also addressed the attack, condemning it as an act of deep hatred and antisemitism. He described the victims as young members of the embassy team and extended his sympathies to their families.

The president reaffirmed his support for the embassy and its staff, emphasizing that the people of Israel stand in solidarity with the Jewish community in Washington and across the U.S.

He stressed that despite such acts of terror, Israel and America would continue to uphold their shared values and remain united against those who promote violence and hate.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the attack.