Intern Killed in D.C. Shooting Sparks Safety Debate

Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a 21-year-old University of Massachusetts Amherst student and congressional intern for Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.), was fatally shot in a triple shooting near the Mount Vernon Square Metro station in Washington, D.C., on June 30, 2025. Police believe the shooting was a random act linked to a dispute between rival groups and not targeted at Tarpinian-Jachym. Two other victims, a woman and a 16-year-old boy, were injured but are expected to recover. Authorities have recovered the suspect vehicle but have made no arrests, offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Tarpinian-Jachym was remembered as kind-hearted, ambitious, and devoted to public service by colleagues and university officials. The tragedy has reignited public safety concerns and discussions about violence in the nation's capital.