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$40K reward offered for information about killing of UMass senior in D.C.
Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, 21, of Granby, Massachusetts, was fatally shot on June 30.
Authorities have increased the reward for information about the fatal shooting of a University of Massachusetts Amherst student who was in Washington, D.C. for a congressional internship.
Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, Granby, Massachusetts, was a rising senior at UMass Amherst, majoring in finance with a minor in political science. The 21-year-old was interning for Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas. He was a graduate of Pope Francis Preparatory School in Springfield.
The Metropolitan Police Department had already offered a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals responsible for homicides in D.C. But, the department announced Tuesday the reward for information related to the shooting of Tarpinian-Jachym has been increased by $15,000 with funds from the FBI’s Washington field office.
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Police responded around 10:28 p.m. on June 30 to the sound of gunshots in the 1200 block of 7th Street. Tarpinian-Jachym was found unconscious at the scene; a woman and 16-year-old boy were also found suffering from gunshot wounds.
The 21-year-old student died from his injuries the next day.
Police have said they do not believe Tarpinian-Jachym was the intended target.
“The preliminary investigation indicates that multiple suspects exited a vehicle at the intersection of 7th and M Street, Northwest and began firing at a group,” police said. “The suspect vehicle has been recovered.”
In a statement, Estes said Tarpinian-Jachym joined his office in June as an intern.
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“I will remember his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile,” Estes said in a statement. “We are grateful to Eric for his service to Kansas’ 4th District and the country.”
The student’s family released a statement last week to The Boston Globe, describing their devastation at the loss of their loved one, a “young man full of promise, purpose, and heart.”
“Eric was an exceptionally bright and kind soul, with a deep love for the outdoors,” the family’s statement read. “He found joy and peace in nature — whether hiking through the woods or casting a line into a quiet stream while fishing.”
Anyone with information about the shooting can contact police at (202) 727-9099 or to text the department’s tip line at 50411.
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