WASHINGTON IN MOURNING: JEANINE PIRRO ANNOUNCES THIRD ARREST IN MURDER OF CONGRESSIONAL INTERN — AND A WARNING THAT STUNS THE CAPITAL

A THIRD SUSPECT, AND A CITY ON EDGE

Federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., have confirmed a new arrest in the murder of 21-year-old congressional intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, whose killing in late June shocked both Capitol Hill and the nation.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro identified the suspect as Naqwan Lucas, 18, now charged in connection with the June 30 shooting that also claimed the life of 22-year-old Zoey Kelley.

Two other men — Kelvin Thomas Jr. and Jailen Lucas — had already been charged with first-degree murder. The arrest marks what officials called “a critical step forward in a case that has exposed deep cracks in D.C.’s juvenile-justice system.”

THE NIGHT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

According to police reports, gunfire erupted around 10:28 p.m. near the 1200 block of 7th Street NW. Witnesses said multiple attackers exited a vehicle and opened fire.

Tarpinian-Jachym, a promising student interning for Rep. Ron Estes (R-KS), was struck by stray bullets and later died at a nearby hospital. Investigators have since determined the attack was targeted — but Eric wasn’t the target.

“He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said an MPD spokesperson.

“THIS DEATH WAS PREVENTABLE”

At a tense Thursday press briefing, Jeanine Pirro didn’t hold back. She revealed all three suspects were already known to the juvenile court system — and accused the city’s leadership of “catastrophic leniency.”

“We live in a district where killers are known to the juvenile court. That’s the problem,” Pirro said.
“The D.C. Council keeps protecting offenders under the guise of preserving their innocence — but where is the protection for the innocent victims?”

Her statement rippled through Washington, striking a nerve in a city struggling with a double-digit rise in homicides this year. Many residents saw it as a long-overdue reckoning.

A FAMILY’S HEARTBREAK

Eric’s parents, Tamara and Robert Jachym, issued a statement to Fox News Digital:

“We are heartbroken over the tragic and senseless loss of Eric — a young man full of purpose, promise, and kindness. He believed in making the world a fairer place.”

Friends and professors from the University of Massachusetts Amherst described him as “the embodiment of idealism.” His classmates organized candlelight vigils on both coasts.

“He wanted to serve — not for fame, but for good,” said fellow student Hannah Lee. “He believed politics could heal. Now we’re left trying to heal without him.”

THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE OUTRAGE

Homicides in Washington D.C. are up 18 percent over last year, with nearly 220 killings recorded so far. Many involve repeat juvenile offenders.

Residents say fear has become routine.

“We hear gunfire almost every week,” said Marcia Williams, a mother of two from Shaw. “They talk about reform — but reform means nothing if our kids can’t walk home alive.”

Community activists are now calling for tougher sentencing and a full overhaul of the juvenile-rehabilitation system, which they describe as “failing both victims and offenders.”

PIRRO’S PROMISE OF FEDERAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Pirro vowed to pursue the case “to the fullest extent of the law.” Her office will present evidence before a grand jury in early 2026, and the suspects could face life sentences without parole if convicted.

“Justice delayed is justice denied,” she declared.
“But justice for Eric — that’s what we intend to deliver.”

She also announced federal cooperation with D.C. police and the Department of Justice to combat repeat-offender violence. A $25,000 reward remains available for anyone providing additional information.

POLITICAL FALLOUT

Pirro’s criticism ignited a fresh political firestorm.
Members of the D.C. Council defended their rehabilitative approach, arguing incarceration alone doesn’t break the cycle of poverty and crime.

But federal prosecutors — and many residents — say compassion has morphed into negligence.

“We’ve reached a point where ideology is costing lives,” Pirro said. “There’s nothing compassionate about letting violent offenders walk free to kill again.”

Former federal prosecutor Michael Kline agreed: “It’s a pattern — known offenders, released early, escalating violence. Until there’s accountability, these tragedies will keep happening.”

THE WHITE HOUSE RESPONDS

Late Thursday, a White House spokesperson pledged cooperation across federal and local law enforcement.

“The administration will ensure that justice is fully served,” the statement read. “We will not tolerate the senseless killing of innocent Americans.”

While the message avoided direct reference to D.C.’s policies, it underscored mounting pressure on city officials to reverse the crime trend.

REMEMBERING ERIC

At UMass Amherst, the political-science department issued a tribute praising Eric’s “commitment to fairness and civic duty.”
A scholarship fund in his name is already being organized.

Rep. Ron Estes called his intern’s death “an unspeakable loss.”

“Eric represented the best of America’s youth — intelligent, engaged, determined to make a difference. His death is a tragedy that should never have happened.”

A CITY AT A CROSSROADS

The murder of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym has become more than a criminal case — it’s now a referendum on Washington’s approach to justice.

Will the city continue to prioritize rehabilitation for offenders, or will it pivot toward stricter accountability? For Pirro, the choice is moral, not political.

“This isn’t just about one crime,” she said. “It’s about whether we’re going to protect our children — or keep burying them.”

Outside the federal courthouse, supporters held signs reading “Justice for Eric” and “Enough is Enough.”

One of them, Alex Grant, a fellow intern, summed up the mood:

“He believed in America. He trusted its institutions. The least we can do now is make sure they don’t fail him again.”

THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE CONTINUES

With three suspects in custody and a community demanding reform, the case has already reshaped Washington’s conversation about youth crime and accountability.

Pirro’s final words at the press conference still echo through the capital:

“Justice delayed is justice denied — but justice, real justice, for Eric, Zoey, and this city is what we’re going to deliver.”

As D.C. faces its moral crossroads, one young intern’s legacy may yet force the nation’s capital to confront its own conscience.