Mom Of D.C. Crime Victim Says U.S. Capital Needs Intervention

On the evening of June 30, a young congressional intern was shot while walking in the 1200 block of 7th Street on Washington, D.C.’s northwest side. According to the Metropolitan Police report, after all lifesaving measures failed, the adult male victim succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.

Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst majoring in finance and minoring in political science, was interning in the office of Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kansas, when he was caught in a hail of gunfire that was not intended for him. The police report indicates that multiple suspects exited a vehicle at the intersection of 7th and M Street and began firing at a group.

Tarpinian-Jachym’s mother, Tamara Tarpinian-Jachym, expressed her concerns about the rising crime in D.C. and suggested that President Donald Trump should take control of law enforcement in the city. She stated, “If Trump feels that he needs to take it over until they can get their act together and start prosecuting these juveniles and these people to the fullest extent of the law, I feel it’s a good idea.”

In response to the escalating violence, President Trump deployed National Guard troops and federal law enforcement officials to D.C. under a public safety emergency order, placing the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control. The Trump administration appointed Drug Enforcement Administration chief Terry Cole to oversee the police department, and federal officials have reportedly cleared approximately 75 homeless encampments since March, following Trump’s executive order aimed at improving safety in the district.

Democratic members of Congress have criticized Trump’s actions, labeling them as dictatorial. Trump countered these claims, stating, “Instead of saying ‘He’s a dictator,’ they should say, ‘We’re going to join him and make Washington safe.’”

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has maintained that her administration is addressing the surge in crime, which she attributes to conditions exacerbated during lockdowns. However, she acknowledged that “the District still has work to do” in making D.C. a safer city. A report from the Rochester Institute of Technology indicated that D.C. had one of the highest homicide rates per 100,000 residents in the nation, with a rate of 27.54 in 2024.

Charles Stimson of the Heritage Foundation highlighted alarming statistics regarding crime in D.C., noting that only 1.7 percent of individuals arrested for carrying a pistol without a license were sentenced to prison between 2018 and 2022. He emphasized the need for significant changes to address the systemic issues contributing to the high crime rates.

The dangers posed by crime in D.C. are felt not only by residents but also by congressional representatives and visitors. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., remarked on the importance of safety for families visiting the capital, stating, “Those families have a right to be safe.”

Tarpinian-Jachym’s mother poignantly concluded, “My son didn’t deserve what happened to him. Nobody deserves that.”