Washington, D.C. — Authorities in the nation’s capital are offering a $75,000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest of an 18-year-old suspect wanted in connection with two murders, one of which involved the tragic death of a congressional intern. The Metropolitan Police Department has identified Naqwan Antonio Lucas as a primary suspect in the shootings, and he is currently wanted on a D.C. Superior Court arrest warrant for first-degree murder in the case of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym.
Tarpinian-Jachym, a 21-year-old intern from Granby, Massachusetts, was fatally shot on June 30. Police responded to reports of gunfire around 10:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of 7th Street Northwest, where they discovered the intern along with a woman and a 16-year-old boy, all suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite immediate medical attention, Tarpinian-Jachym succumbed to his injuries the following day.
In the aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement officials apprehended two teens, 17-year-olds Kelvin Thomas and Jailen Lucas, who now face adult charges for their alleged roles in the killing. The investigation later led detectives to identify Naqwan Lucas as the third suspect involved in the case. On September 26, police released images of him to solicit help from the public.
Further complicating the investigation, authorities have linked Lucas to another murder, that of 17-year-old Zoey Kelley, who was shot on July 4. Officers were dispatched to a residence on Benning Road Northeast after receiving reports of gunfire, arriving to find Kelley unresponsive at the scene. The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide, prompting police to pursue Lucas in connection with both cases.
The District’s police department is now actively searching for Lucas, who is wanted under another grand jury indictment also charging him with first-degree murder in Kelley’s death. The combined rewards offered for information regarding his whereabouts include $50,000 from the police department, $15,000 from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and an additional $10,000 from the U.S. Marshals Service.
Officials are urging anyone with information about Lucas to contact the Metropolitan Police Department at 202-727-9099 or text anonymous tips to 50411. The search for justice continues as the community grapples with the impact of these violent incidents.