Two Israeli Embassy employees, a man and a woman, were shot and killed Wednesday night as they left the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., according to officials. A suspect is in custody.
Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith said during a late-night news conference that the shooting occurred outside the museum at 9:08 p.m. local time, near an FBI field office.
Smith said the suspect, 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, was initially “observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum” before approaching a group of four people, “produced a handgun,” and shooting the two victims.
According to the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, officers arrived at the scene to find the victims unconscious and not breathing, as well as with gunshot wounds.
“We believe the shooting was committed by a single suspect who is now in custody,” Smith informed the audience.
Two law enforcement sources told CBS News that the shooting appeared to be a targeted attack.
According to the police chief, the suspect entered the museum immediately after the shooting and was arrested by museum security.
“The suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered,” Smith claimed, adding that he “implied that he committed the offense.”
Smith stated that he “chanted ‘free, free Palestine,’ while in custody.”
According to Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, the two victims were a couple about to get engaged.
“The couple that was gunned down tonight in the name of Free Palestine was a young couple about to be engaged,” Leiter informed reporters. “The young man bought a ring this week and plans to propose to his girlfriend in Jerusalem next week. “They were a lovely couple who came to spend the evening in Washington’s cultural center.”
Leiter said he spoke with President Trump on the phone after the shooting, as did U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who attended the news conference and previously stated that she responded to the scene.
“I spoke to the president of the United States multiple times tonight,” Bondi told reporters. “On behalf of the president, his prayers are with all of us, all of the Jewish community, all of us in Washington, D.C.”
Mr. Trump later wrote on Truth Social, “These horrible D.C. killings, clearly motivated by antisemitism, must end NOW!” Hatred and radicalism have no place in the United States. Condolences to the families of the victims. It’s so sad that things like this happen! God bless you all!”
The Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office stated that he is “shocked” by the “horrific, antisemitic” shooting. The office stated that he directed Israeli missions around the world to beef up security.
In a statement, Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the shooting as a “despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism,” adding, “America and Israel will stand united in defense of our people and our shared values.” “Terror and hatred will not break us.”
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the D.C. Police Department and the FBI will conduct an investigation.
“We will not tolerate antisemitism,” Bowser said. He went on to describe “the FBI’s role of course as always when there is any possibility of a terrorist act, or acts motivated by hate or other bias, the FBI will be conducting those investigations.”
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem reported on X that “two Israeli Embassy staff were senselessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC.”
FBI Director Kash Patel also stated on social media, “My team and I have been briefed on the shooting tonight in downtown DC outside the Capital Jewish Museum and near our Washington Field Office.” Patel stated that the FBI was cooperating with Metropolitan Police on the investigation.
“There is no ongoing threat to public safety,” the FBI Washington Field Office reported on X.