One of three suspects in the murder of a Congressional intern waived his right to perform independent DNA testing on May 15 before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson.
Naqwan Lucas, 19, his brother Jailen Lucas, 17, and Kelvin Thomas, 17, are charged with conspiracy, first-degree premeditated murder while armed in a drive-by or random shooting, four counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, three counts of aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and nine counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Eric Tarpinian-Jachym on June 30, 2025 on the 1200 block of 7th Street, NW.
The shooting also injured a woman and a 16-year-old juvenile male.
According to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Tarpinian-Jachym was caught in the line of fire when “three armed suspects exited a stolen vehicle and began firing shots at two young men” in downtown DC. Tarpinian-Jachym was hit four times and died the following day.
Jailen and Thomas are charged under Title 16, which allows prosecutors to try juveniles as adults for certain serious offenses.
Judge Dayson explained to Naqwan that if he chose not to do his own DNA testing, he would not likely be able to do so if he were convicted.
Represented by Megan Allburn, Naqwan declined to test the prosecution’s evidence in the high-profile case, an option guaranteed by the Innocence Protection Act (IPA). Judge Dayson accepted his decision.
At a hearing on April 16 the prosecutor detailed DNA testing of items conducted after the co-defendants were arrested. They include two firearm cartridge casings reportedly implicating Jailen, a Bic Lighter linked to Jailen and Naqwan Lucas, and recovered DNA from the car allegedly tied to Kelvin Thomas.
Profiles derived from DNA analysis can generate a high statistical probability that evidence in a case comes from the defendant.
An eight-page filing submitted by the U.S. The Attorney’s Office also in April listed hundreds of pages of evidentiary items to be introduced at trial including a mouth swab to extract Naqwan’s DNA. The prosecution sent the results to the defense teams for each co-defendant.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Aug. 28
