Man Accused in D.C. Intern’s Murder Linked to Teen Girl’s Killing Days Later, Police Say

October 21, 2025 — The man accused of fatally shooting a congressional intern in Washington, D.C., has now been linked to another killing that occurred just days later, police revealed Friday.

Authorities say Naqwan Lucas—wanted in connection with the June 30 shooting death of 21-year-old Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, an intern for Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.)—has also been charged in the July 4 murder of 17-year-old Zoey Kelley.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Lucas faces charges of premeditated first-degree murder while armed in Kelley’s death. Police responded to a “call for trouble” at a D.C. residence where Kelley was found with a gunshot wound and pronounced dead at the scene.

Lucas has not yet been arrested and remains at large. MPD Chief Pamela Smith said investigators are confident his capture is imminent. “These two arrests, and a third one pending – I’m confident we’ll get the third one – give Eric’s loved ones some sense of peace as they continue to grieve a tremendous loss,” Smith said.

Two other suspects, Jailen Lucas and Kelvin Thomas Jr., have already been arrested in connection with Tarpinian-Jachym’s killing. Both suspects are juveniles and, according to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, have histories of violent behavior in family court.

Tarpinian-Jachym, a Kansas native, was shot on the 1200 block of 7th Street NW while interning on Capitol Hill. He died the following day at a hospital. Police said two other victims—a woman and a 16-year-old boy—were injured but survived.

Tarpinian-Jachym’s mother, Tamara Jachym, told Fox News Digital she had long feared the suspects would strike again if not quickly caught. “I think Eric felt safe. It was early at night. He was in a decent area and this happened,” she said. “Eric was the 85th victim, and now we have an 86.”

As of mid-October, D.C.’s homicide rate continues to rise, underscoring growing public concern about violent crime in the nation’s capital—even as authorities pursue the manhunt for Lucas, now accused of two brutal murders in less than a week.