Gun found in stolen car

U.S. Park Police recovered a 9 mm handgun on Oct. 21 that investigators link to the shooting death of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym. The weapon was found inside a stolen Honda that officers pulled over along North Street in Northwest Washington, D.C. The discovery marks the first time police have recovered any of the firearms used in the June 2025 attack.

Tarpinian-Jachym, a 21-year-old intern, was killed by three gunmen who fired a total of 79 rounds. Two suspects wielded rifles while the third used a 9 mm pistol. Although police had previously arrested three individuals, no weapons from the scene had been turned over to investigators until this week. The newly found gun contains an extended magazine and a giggle switch, a modification that allows the semi-automatic firearm to function as an automatic weapon.

Officers arrested three individuals connected to the stolen vehicle. According to Park Police, the three teens are aged 18, 17, and 16. One of the group has been charged as an adult, while the other two face juvenile charges. The two additional 9 mm handguns found in the car also feature extended magazines and giggle switches.

Prosecutors sent a letter to defense attorneys stating they will conduct DNA testing on the recovered firearm, magazines, and bullets. The office aims to determine if the physical evidence can be linked to the suspects currently facing murder charges. The U.S. attorney’s office confirmed the weapon is part of an active investigation but declined to provide further details. Defense attorneys for Kelvin Thomas Jr. and the Lucas brothers did not comment, with only one responding that they had no statement.

Tamarra Tarpinian-Jachym, Eric’s mother, spoke in court about the emotional weight of the discovery. She noted that her son’s birthday was Wednesday, Oct. 28. "It took the wind out of my lungs, I was in shock," she said. "If it is accurate information based on what they filed in court, it's just really overwhelming." She added that at least two illegal guns are now off the street and cannot harm anyone.

Tarpinian-Jachym highlighted the coincidence of the shooting time and her son's birthday. "I just don’t want people to forget, he was shot at 10:28 and his birthday is 10/28," she said. She recalled that her husband had bought Eric a Dunkin refresher shortly before his death. The drink and his preferred butter crunch donut remain on their dining room table.

D.C. Police have charged Kelvin Thomas Jr. and brothers Naqwan and Jailen Lucas with first degree murder. The case remains in the pre-trial phase while prosecutors gather new forensic evidence from the recovered weapons.