Teens suspected of murdering congressional intern linked by DNA on shell casings, prosecutors say

DNA grounds has linked 2 of the teenagers charged successful the shooting decease of a University of Massachusetts pupil who was moving arsenic a legislature intern successful Washington, D.C. past summer, prosecutors alleged.

Government attorneys told Washington, D.C. Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson during a Friday presumption proceeding that investigating connected ammunition casings recovered astatine the country produced an "overwhelming statistical match" to Jailen Lucas, and that DNA besides ties Kelvin Thomas to the shooting.

The 2 suspects, who were some 17 astatine the clip of the shooting, are charged arsenic adults with first-degree execution portion equipped successful the sidesplitting of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, 21, of Granby, Massachusetts.

SUSPECT IN MURDERS OF CONGRESSIONAL INTERN AND 17-YEAR-OLD ARRESTED MONTHS AFTER SHOOTINGS: OFFICIAL

Eric Tarpinian-Jachym was changeable and killed connected June 30, 2025. (Obtained by Fox News)

Two rounds of DNA investigating person been completed, prosecutors said, and further adept grounds is expected astatine proceedings connected DNA analysis, ballistics and fingerprint evidence.

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Tarpinian-Jachym, a rising elder astatine the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was changeable June 30, adjacent the intersection of 7th and M Street NW successful Washington.

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He was spending the summertime successful Washington arsenic a legislature intern for Rep. Ron Estes, a Republican from Kansas. 

Kelvin Thomas Jr. (L) and Jailen Lucas (R) look first-degree execution charges successful the sidesplitting of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym connected June 30. (The Metropolitan Police Department)

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Authorities accidental 3 equipped suspects exited a stolen conveyance and opened occurrence astatine 2 individuals successful the area.

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Tarpinian-Jachym, who was not involved, was struck 4 times. He died the pursuing day.

The Metropolitan Police Department released much pictures of Naqwan Lucas. (The Metropolitan Police Department)

Lucas and Thomas were arrested Sept. 5. On Oct. 31, a 3rd suspect, identified arsenic 18-year-old Naqwan Antonio Lucas of the District of Columbia, was arrested successful Montgomery Village and besides charged successful Tarpinian-Jachym's murder.

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A pretrial proceeding is scheduled for May 15. The proceedings is expected to statesman successful February. Tarpinian-Jachym's parent declined to remark erstwhile reached retired to by Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital's Adam Sabes contributed to this report.

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