Two 17-year-olds have been arrested on murder charges in the fatal shooting of a US congressional intern who was struck by stray bullets in Washington DC. Kelvin Thomas Jr and Jailen Lucas are being charged as adults with first-degree murder while armed, according to US attorney Jeanine Pirro. Police are searching for a third suspect.
The victim, Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, 21, from Granby, Massachusetts, was an innocent bystander gunned down near Mount Vernon Square on the night of 30 June. He was interning for Republican congressman Ron Estes of Kansas. Pirro said the system had failed the victim by coddling juveniles, adding: 'They're not kids. They're criminals.'
According to police, the suspects exited a vehicle at an intersection and shot at two people on bikes, including a 16-year-old who was wounded. Tarpinian-Jachym was hit by four bullets, and a woman who was not a target also suffered gunshot wounds but survived. Surveillance footage helped identify the three suspects.
In July, the House of Representatives observed a moment of silence after Estes paid tribute to Tarpinian-Jachym, describing him as a dedicated, thoughtful and kind person who loved his country. The killing was also referenced by Donald Trump in August when he announced the federal intervention in the District of Columbia. The suspects' attorneys were not immediately identified in court records.
