Two staff members of the Israeli embassy in the United States were shot dead at close range outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC on Wednesday evening, in what police have described as a targeted attack.
The victims, a young couple, were shot as they left a Jewish community event in the city’s downtown district. The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, was apprehended at the scene after reportedly shouting “Free, free Palestine” following the attack. Police said the suspect had been seen pacing outside the museum prior to opening fire on a group of four people.
“We don’t see anything in his background that would have placed him on our radar,” said Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith, who confirmed that police had no prior interactions with the suspect.
The incident occurred around 9:05 p.m. local time (01:05 GMT), close to several major landmarks and government buildings, including the FBI’s Washington field office. The shooting triggered a major security lockdown, including temporary restrictions at Georgetown University.
Israeli ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, revealed at a press briefing that the slain couple had been planning to get engaged. He said the male victim had bought a ring earlier in the week and intended to propose during an upcoming trip to Jerusalem.
“My heart aches for the families of the beloved young man and woman, whose lives were cut short by a heinous antisemitic murderer,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also announced plans to increase security at Israeli embassies worldwide.
The attack has been widely condemned. Former U.S. President Donald Trump called it an act of “antisemitism” and demanded urgent action.
“These horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA,” he wrote on Truth Social.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X that “we will track down those responsible and bring them to justice,” while U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described the killings as a “horrific act of terror.”
Israeli embassy spokesman Tal Naim Cohen confirmed that both victims were shot at close range and expressed confidence in U.S. authorities to protect Israeli representatives and Jewish communities across the country.
The Capital Jewish Museum, like many Jewish institutions in the U.S., has been grappling with heightened security concerns amid a rise in antisemitic threats. Executive Director Beatrice Gurwitz previously told NBC News that the museum had recently received a security grant, in part due to concerns surrounding a new LGBT pride exhibit.
“We want to ensure that our space is as welcoming and secure for everybody who comes here,” she said.
JoJo Kalin, a board member of the American Jewish Committee, who helped organise the event, said the tragedy would not deter efforts toward dialogue and coexistence.
“That Israelis and Palestinians both still deserve self-determination… it’s just deeply ironic that that’s what we were discussing,” she said.
Follow us on:
