Washington, D.C. – Two staff members of the Israeli Embassy were shot and killed Wednesday night outside the Capital Jewish Museum in downtown Washington, D.C., according to law enforcement officials. A suspect has been apprehended in connection with the incident.
Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith reported during a late-night news conference that the shooting occurred at approximately 9:08 p.m. local time outside the museum, which is situated near an FBI field office. Chief Smith identified the suspect as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago. Preliminary investigation indicates that Rodriguez was “observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum” before approaching a group of four individuals, “produced a handgun,” and fatally shot the two victims.
Metropolitan Police stated that an initial search of crime databases did not yield any prior record for Rodriguez, and he was not known to law enforcement agencies.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry identified the deceased in a post on X as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. The ministry expressed shock and horror at the “brutal terrorist attack.”
Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, informed reporters that the victims were a young couple on the verge of getting engaged. He stated that the young man had recently purchased an engagement ring with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend in Jerusalem the following week. Ambassador Leiter described them as “a beautiful couple who came to enjoy an evening in Washington’s cultural center.”
Former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Mike Herzog, told Israeli Army Radio that the female victim was an American citizen, while the male victim was Israeli, according to The Associated Press.
Responding officers found the victims with gunshot wounds, unconscious and not breathing, according to the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.
Chief Smith confirmed, “We believe the shooting was committed by a single suspect who is now in custody.” She added that the suspect entered the museum immediately after the shooting and was apprehended by museum security.
“The suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered,” Chief Smith stated, noting that the suspect “implied that he committed the offense.” She also revealed that the suspect “chanted ‘free, free Palestine,’ while in custody.”
Ambassador Leiter reported speaking with President Trump by phone following the incident, as did U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was present at the news conference and had earlier responded to the scene. Attorney General Bondi conveyed President Trump’s prayers for the Jewish community and the residents of Washington, D.C.
President Trump later addressed the killings on Truth Social, condemning them as “horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism,” and called for an immediate end to such hatred and radicalism.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement expressing his shock at the “horrific, antisemitic” shooting and announced that he had instructed Israeli missions worldwide to increase security. He attributed the incident to “the terrible price of anti-Semitism and the wild incitement against the State of Israel.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog described the shooting as a “despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism,” and affirmed that “America and Israel will stand united in defense of our people and our shared values. Terror and hate will not break us.”
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser stated that the D.C. Police and the FBI would be jointly investigating the incident, emphasizing, “We will not tolerate antisemitism.” She added that the FBI would be involved due to the possibility of a terrorist act or acts motivated by hate or other bias.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem also condemned the “senseless” killings, and FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the FBI was working with Metropolitan police on the investigation, assuring the public that there was “no ongoing threat to public safety.”
Discussion about this post