A congressional intern working for Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kan., was fatally shot in northwest Washington, D.C., while walking down the street, according to police.
Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, 21, of Granby, Massachusetts, was killed after unidentified suspects got out of a vehicle near the intersection of 7th and M streets Monday and began shooting at a group of people around 10:28 p.m. ET, the Metropolitan Police Department said.
Detectives do not believe that Tarpinian-Jachym, who started his internship on Capitol Hill last month, was the intended target of the shooting.
According to Estes' office, Tarpinian-Jachym was a rising senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst who was majoring in finance and minoring in political science. The New York Post reported that he was enrolled at the university's Isenberg School of Management.
Two other victims, a woman and a 16-year-old boy, were also reportedly shot in the incident.
When authorities arrived on the scene, Tarpinian-Jachym was unconscious, while the woman and the 16-year-old boy were both conscious and suffering from non-life-threatening injuries.
According to police, all three were transported to local hospitals for treatment, but Tarpinian-Jachym succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday.
Estes and his wife, Susan, offered "their prayers and deepest condolences" to Tarpinian-Jachym's family in a statement.
"I will remember his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile," Estes said. "We are grateful to Eric for his service to Kansas' 4th District and the country."
"Please join Susan and me in praying for his family and respecting their privacy during this heartbreaking time," the statement added.
While the vehicle used by the assailants has been recovered, no arrests have been made, and police said Thursday there were no updates in the ongoing investigation.
The department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.
Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call (202) 727-9099 or text the department's text tip line at 50411.
Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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