D.C. police upped its reward to $40,000 for leads on the suspect who gunned down a congressional intern last week by the Mount Vernon Square Metro station.
Metropolitan Police said the FBI contributed to the heftier cash offering Tuesday as authorities continue to search for the gunman who shot and killed Eric Tarpinian-Jachym on June 30.
Police said the 21-year-old was not the intended target in the deadly shooting that erupted at about 10:30 p.m. when multiple people jumped out of a car and sprayed down the 1200 block of 7th Street Northwest.
Officials said no arrests have been made, with no persons of interest named in the investigation.
“As long as we have guns and people who are willing to use guns indiscriminately, we can have tragedies like that,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said Wednesday. “Our focus on bringing any crime committed … is finding out who’s responsible and making sure that justice is done.”
A woman and a 16-year-old boy were wounded in the shooting, police said, and both survived.
Police Chief Pamela A. Smith said last week the woman was an innocent bystander, but detectives believe the teen was connected to the people targeted by the gunfire.
Mr. Tarpinian-Jachym, a Massachusetts native, was interning for Rep. Ron Estes since last month.
The Kansas Republican said Mr. Tarpinian-Jachym was set to become a senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst this fall after majoring in finance with a minor in political science.
“I will remember his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile,” said Mr. Estes in a statement.
“We are grateful to Eric for his service to Kansas’ 4th District and the country. Please join Susan and me in praying for his family and respecting their privacy during this heartbreaking time,” the lawmaker said.
