Topline: DNA testing on shell casings allegedly tied two teenage defendants to the shooting that killed congressional intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym in Washington last summer.
Published: April 11, 2026 12:01 pm ET
Shawn Fletcher
Committed to the craft of journalism and am driven by my desire to inform and inspire.
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Kelvin Thomas Jr., left, and Jailen Lucas, right, are charged with first-degree murder in connection with the June 30 killing of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
WASHINGTON, DC — DNA evidence on shell casings has linked two teenage defendants to the fatal shooting of congressional intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, prosecutors said during a Friday status hearing in Superior Court.
Fox News reported that government attorneys told Judge Danya Dayson that testing on shell casings recovered at the scene produced an “overwhelming statistical match” to Jailen Lucas and that DNA evidence also ties Kelvin Thomas to the shooting.
Tarpinian-Jachym, 21, of Granby, Massachusetts, was a rising senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was spending the summer in Washington as a congressional intern for Rep. Ron Estes, a Kansas Republican.
According to authorities, Tarpinian-Jachym was shot on June 30, 2025, near the intersection of 7th and M Street NW in Washington. Fox News’ earlier reporting said the shooting happened in the 1200 block of 7th Street NW, near the Mt. Vernon Square 7th St-Convention Center Metro stop.
Authorities said three armed suspects got out of a stolen vehicle and opened fire at two people in the area. Tarpinian-Jachym was not one of the intended targets, according to police, but he was struck four times and died the following day.
Fox News previously reported that the barrage also wounded a 16-year-old boy and an adult woman. During a later press conference, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said a total of 79 shots were fired in the attack that killed Tarpinian-Jachym.
According to prosecutors, two rounds of DNA testing have been completed. Additional expert testimony is expected at trial on DNA analysis, ballistics and fingerprint evidence.
Jailen Lucas and Kelvin Thomas were both 17 at the time of the shooting and are charged as adults with first-degree murder while armed in Tarpinian-Jachym’s killing, according to Fox News. Both were arrested on Sept. 5.
A third defendant, Naqwan Antonio Lucas, 18, of the District of Columbia, was arrested Oct. 31 in Montgomery Village, Maryland, and was also charged in Tarpinian-Jachym’s murder, according to Fox News.
Fox News also reported that Naqwan Lucas was later charged in the July 4, 2025, fatal shooting of 17-year-old Zoey Kelley. He was indicted in that case on a charge of premeditated first-degree murder while armed.
According to Fox News, Pirro said Kelley was Lucas’ girlfriend. She also said both homicides were “predictable” and argued that the teenage suspects should have faced harsher consequences for earlier crimes.
Pirro said in remarks previously reported by Fox News that the defendants were accustomed to getting away with criminal behavior and never believed they would be punished. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said after the arrests that Tarpinian-Jachym had come to Washington with a bright future ahead of him and was senselessly taken from his family.
A pretrial hearing in the Tarpinian-Jachym case is scheduled for May 15, according to Fox News, and the trial is expected to begin in February.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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DNA Evidence Links 2 Teens to Killing of Congressional Intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, Prosecutors Say
DNA testing on shell casings allegedly tied two teenage defendants to the shooting that killed congressional intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym in Washington last summer.
By Shawn Fletcher
Published: April 11, 2026 12:01 pm ET
Kelvin Thomas Jr., left, and Jailen Lucas, right, are charged with first-degree murder in connection with the June 30 killing of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
WASHINGTON, DC — DNA evidence on shell casings has linked two teenage defendants to the fatal shooting of congressional intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, prosecutors said during a Friday status hearing in Superior Court.
Fox News reported that government attorneys told Judge Danya Dayson that testing on shell casings recovered at the scene produced an “overwhelming statistical match” to Jailen Lucas and that DNA evidence also ties Kelvin Thomas to the shooting.
Tarpinian-Jachym, 21, of Granby, Massachusetts, was a rising senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was spending the summer in Washington as a congressional intern for Rep. Ron Estes, a Kansas Republican.
According to authorities, Tarpinian-Jachym was shot on June 30, 2025, near the intersection of 7th and M Street NW in Washington. Fox News’ earlier reporting said the shooting happened in the 1200 block of 7th Street NW, near the Mt. Vernon Square 7th St-Convention Center Metro stop.
Authorities said three armed suspects got out of a stolen vehicle and opened fire at two people in the area. Tarpinian-Jachym was not one of the intended targets, according to police, but he was struck four times and died the following day.
Fox News previously reported that the barrage also wounded a 16-year-old boy and an adult woman. During a later press conference, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said a total of 79 shots were fired in the attack that killed Tarpinian-Jachym.
According to prosecutors, two rounds of DNA testing have been completed. Additional expert testimony is expected at trial on DNA analysis, ballistics and fingerprint evidence.
Jailen Lucas and Kelvin Thomas were both 17 at the time of the shooting and are charged as adults with first-degree murder while armed in Tarpinian-Jachym’s killing, according to Fox News. Both were arrested on Sept. 5.
A third defendant, Naqwan Antonio Lucas, 18, of the District of Columbia, was arrested Oct. 31 in Montgomery Village, Maryland, and was also charged in Tarpinian-Jachym’s murder, according to Fox News.
Fox News also reported that Naqwan Lucas was later charged in the July 4, 2025, fatal shooting of 17-year-old Zoey Kelley. He was indicted in that case on a charge of premeditated first-degree murder while armed.
According to Fox News, Pirro said Kelley was Lucas’ girlfriend. She also said both homicides were “predictable” and argued that the teenage suspects should have faced harsher consequences for earlier crimes.
Pirro said in remarks previously reported by Fox News that the defendants were accustomed to getting away with criminal behavior and never believed they would be punished. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said after the arrests that Tarpinian-Jachym had come to Washington with a bright future ahead of him and was senselessly taken from his family.
A pretrial hearing in the Tarpinian-Jachym case is scheduled for May 15, according to Fox News, and the trial is expected to begin in February.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Latest Articles
DNA Evidence Links 2 Teens to Killing of Congressional Intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, Prosecutors Say
DNA testing on shell casings allegedly tied two teenage defendants to the shooting that killed congressional intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym in Washington last summer.
By Shawn Fletcher
Published: April 11, 2026 12:01 pm ET
Kelvin Thomas Jr., left, and Jailen Lucas, right, are charged with first-degree murder in connection with the June 30 killing of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
WASHINGTON, DC — DNA evidence on shell casings has linked two teenage defendants to the fatal shooting of congressional intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, prosecutors said during a Friday status hearing in Superior Court.
Fox News reported that government attorneys told Judge Danya Dayson that testing on shell casings recovered at the scene produced an “overwhelming statistical match” to Jailen Lucas and that DNA evidence also ties Kelvin Thomas to the shooting.
Tarpinian-Jachym, 21, of Granby, Massachusetts, was a rising senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was spending the summer in Washington as a congressional intern for Rep. Ron Estes, a Kansas Republican.
According to authorities, Tarpinian-Jachym was shot on June 30, 2025, near the intersection of 7th and M Street NW in Washington. Fox News’ earlier reporting said the shooting happened in the 1200 block of 7th Street NW, near the Mt. Vernon Square 7th St-Convention Center Metro stop.
Authorities said three armed suspects got out of a stolen vehicle and opened fire at two people in the area. Tarpinian-Jachym was not one of the intended targets, according to police, but he was struck four times and died the following day.
Fox News previously reported that the barrage also wounded a 16-year-old boy and an adult woman. During a later press conference, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said a total of 79 shots were fired in the attack that killed Tarpinian-Jachym.
According to prosecutors, two rounds of DNA testing have been completed. Additional expert testimony is expected at trial on DNA analysis, ballistics and fingerprint evidence.
Jailen Lucas and Kelvin Thomas were both 17 at the time of the shooting and are charged as adults with first-degree murder while armed in Tarpinian-Jachym’s killing, according to Fox News. Both were arrested on Sept. 5.
A third defendant, Naqwan Antonio Lucas, 18, of the District of Columbia, was arrested Oct. 31 in Montgomery Village, Maryland, and was also charged in Tarpinian-Jachym’s murder, according to Fox News.
Fox News also reported that Naqwan Lucas was later charged in the July 4, 2025, fatal shooting of 17-year-old Zoey Kelley. He was indicted in that case on a charge of premeditated first-degree murder while armed.
According to Fox News, Pirro said Kelley was Lucas’ girlfriend. She also said both homicides were “predictable” and argued that the teenage suspects should have faced harsher consequences for earlier crimes.
Pirro said in remarks previously reported by Fox News that the defendants were accustomed to getting away with criminal behavior and never believed they would be punished. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said after the arrests that Tarpinian-Jachym had come to Washington with a bright future ahead of him and was senselessly taken from his family.
A pretrial hearing in the Tarpinian-Jachym case is scheduled for May 15, according to Fox News, and the trial is expected to begin in February.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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