Washington, D.C. | By Daniel Jackson, Springfield Republican
People in the U.S. House Chamber stood on the evening of July 15, observing a moment of silence for Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a Granby native interning on Capitol Hill who was killed at the end of June.
Tarpinian-Jachym, 21, was interning at the office of U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kansas, when he became a bystander caught in the path of gunfire in the District of Columbia. His funeral was held Thursday in East Longmeadow, and a liturgy of Christian burial was observed in Wilbraham.
Flanked by U.S. Reps Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, and Richard Neal, D-Springfield, Estes asked the chamber to observe the moment of silence, saying Tarpinian-Jachym gave his life to service.
“He was a kind and friendly presence in my office, greeting everyone who came through the door with a smile,” Estes said. “The loss of Eric will be felt for a long time.”
Neal described Tarpinian-Jachym as a person that had “great promise.”
“He came to Capitol Hill eager to learn, contribute, and serve the people and this great institution, only motivated by idealism and a commitment to public service,” Neal said. “Through his determination and intellect, he accomplished all of that.”
The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department has offered a reward of up to $40,000 for information about his killing.
