{"id":11998,"date":"2025-07-03T18:56:06","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T18:56:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kohajone.press\/?p=11998"},"modified":"2025-07-03T18:56:06","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T18:56:06","slug":"21-year-old-congressional-intern-shot-dead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kohajone.press\/?p=11998","title":{"rendered":"21-year-old congressional intern shot dead"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A 21-year-old congressional intern was tragically gunned down in Washington D.C. this week in what police believe was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a rising senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was fatally shot near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center late on Tuesday night (July 1),\u00a0WWLP\u00a0reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police say he was not the intended target but was caught in a spray of bullets just after 10:30 p.m. The gunfire also hit a 16-year-old boy and an adult woman, both of whom survived. Eric, however, was found unconscious at the scene and later died at hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was in the capital for a summer internship with Kansas Congressman Ron Estes, and had been pursuing a degree in finance with a minor in political science. Originally from Granby, Massachusetts, Eric had big plans for a future in public service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His death has left both Capitol Hill and his hometown community shaken. \u201cI will remember his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile,\u201d said Rep. Estes in a statement the following day, via\u00a0ABC News. \u201cWe are grateful to Eric for his service to Kansas\u2019 4th District and the country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Massachusetts Rep. Richard Neal, who also teaches at UMass, called the shooting \u201cheartbreaking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cEric 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,\u201d Neal said. \u201cEric embodied what it means to be part of a community committed to learning, growth, and civic engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added: \u201cAny parent will tell you there is no greater pain than the pain of losing a child.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0Metropolitan Police Department\u00a0confirmed Eric\u2019s identity on Wednesday and said the investigation is ongoing. No arrests have been made yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, but according to\u00a0The Washington Post, detectives believe Eric was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, likely a bystander in a shooting aimed at someone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0MPD\u00a0is now offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Anyone with tips is urged to call (202) 727-9099 or text 50411.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eric\u2019s death marks yet another tragedy in a city grappling with rising gun violence. As tributes continue to pour in from lawmakers, classmates, and friends, many are remembering him not just as a promising student, but as someone who genuinely wanted to make a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His loss isn\u2019t just personal, it\u2019s political. A life that could have helped shape the future was cut short on a random Tuesday night. And now, his loved ones (and a community) are left searching for answers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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