Naqwan Antonio Lucas, 18, of Washington, D.C., has been indicted on charges related to two separate murders that occurred earlier this year. According to the U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Lucas faces a 16-count indictment for the June 30 shooting death of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a 21-year-old congressional intern. He is also charged in a second indictment for the July 4 killing of 17-year-old Zoey Kelley.
Lucas appeared before Judge Dana Dayson in D.C. Superior Court for arraignment on both indictments and entered a plea of not guilty. Judge Dayson ordered him held until a status hearing with his co-defendants scheduled for November 7.
The announcement was made alongside Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces S. Serralta, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis from the Washington Field Office Criminal Division.
“These were predictable homicides based upon the behavior of these individuals and the records that everyone knew about, yet the D.C. Council is interested in protecting not the victims but the criminals under the guise of protecting the innocence of youth,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “It’s time for them to start protecting the citizens of the District.”
Authorities arrested Lucas last night in Montgomery Village, Maryland, with assistance from members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, MPD officers, and U.S. Marshals.
The incident involving Tarpinian occurred when three armed suspects exited a stolen vehicle near 7th and M Street NW and began firing at two young men; Tarpinian was an innocent bystander who was shot four times and died later from his injuries. Five other people were also assaulted or injured during this event.
Kelvin Thomas Jr., 17, and Jailen Lucas, also 17 and identified as Naqwan Lucas’ brother, were previously arrested on September 5 and charged as adults with first-degree murder while armed in connection with Tarpinian’s death.
In a separate case on July 4, police responded to reports at an apartment on Benning Road NE where they discovered Zoey Kelley dead from a gunshot wound inside a storage container wrapped in bedding.
Last week, law enforcement agencies announced a $75,000 reward for information leading to Lucas’ arrest.
The investigation is being conducted by MPD and U.S. Marshals Service with support from the FBI Washington Field Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin M. DeRiso and Anthony Cocuzza.
