FBI brokers cordon off the scene outdoors the Capital Jewish Museum following a taking pictures that left two folks lifeless, in Washington, DC, on Could 21, 2025. Two Israeli embassy employees members have been killed close to a Jewish museum in Washington late Wednesday Could 21, US Homeland Safety chief Kristi Noem mentioned.
“Two Israeli Embassy employees have been senselessly killed tonight close to the Jewish Museum in Washington DC. We’re actively investigating and dealing to get extra info to share,” she posted on X. (Picture by Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP) (Picture by ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
Alex Wroblewski | Afp | Getty Pictures
Two employees members of Israel’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., have been shot lifeless outdoors the district’s Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night time, officers mentioned.
The suspect shouted “Free, free Palestine” whereas in police custody and “implied” that he dedicated the taking pictures, Washington Police Chief Pamela Smith mentioned. He was recognized as Elias Rodriguez, in his early 30s, of Chicago.
In custody, he instructed authorities the place he discarded the weapon, Smith added. Mayor Muriel Bowser mentioned there was no energetic risk to the neighborhood following the arrest.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned he has directed safety will increase for Israeli missions and representatives around the globe.
He provided his condolences to the victims, saying, “My coronary heart grieves for the households of the younger beloveds, whose lives have been lower brief in a second by an abhorrent antisemitic assassin.”
The victims have been leaving the museum, the place an occasion was being held, after they have been gunned down round 9 p.m., Smith mentioned. Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, confirmed in an announcement that the group was internet hosting the gathering.
The person had been pacing forwards and backwards outdoors the museum when he approached a bunch of 4 and opened fireplace utilizing a handgun, Smith mentioned. He then entered the constructing, the place he was detained by safety, she mentioned.
A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, Tal Naim Cohen, described the victims as two employees members, including that they “have been shot this night at shut vary whereas attending a Jewish occasion.”
Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, referred to as the incident a “wicked act of anti-Semitic terrorism.”
“Harming the Jewish neighborhood is crossing a crimson line,” he mentioned on X.
The taking pictures comes greater than 18 months after Israel launched a bombing marketing campaign and floor invasion in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist assault on Israel by Hamas militants, through which greater than 1,200 folks have been killed and a whole bunch extra have been taken hostage, in response to Israeli tallies.
Israel’s counteroffensive has killed greater than 53,000 folks in Gaza, a lot of them girls and youngsters, in response to the Hamas-run Well being Ministry in Gaza. Worldwide support teams and governments have additionally warned of the danger of famine within the enclave. Netanyahu mentioned Sunday that Israel would enable a restricted quantity of humanitarian support to move in following a three-month blockade.
“Free Palestine” has turn out to be a preferred chorus amongst supporters of the Palestinian trigger.
The victims weren’t instantly recognized by title. Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the US, mentioned they have been a pair on an evening out.
“The couple that was gunned down tonight within the title of ‘Free Palestine’ is a younger couple about to be engaged,” he mentioned at a late-night information convention. “The younger man bought a hoop this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend subsequent week in Jerusalem.”
President Donald Trump condemned the violence.
“These horrible D.C. killings, based mostly clearly on antisemitism, should finish, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism haven’t any place within the USA. Condolences to the households of the victims. So unhappy that things like this may occur!” he mentioned on social media.
Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi provided prayers to the victims on X.
“We’ll be doing all the things in our energy to maintain all residents secure, particularly tonight our Jewish neighborhood,” Bondi mentioned on the information convention. She added that Jeanine Pirro, the interim U.S. lawyer for Washington, will prosecute the case.
Different U.S. officers additionally decried the taking pictures. Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned the victims have been “senselessly killed,” and Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who’s Jewish, referred to as it “one other horrific occasion of antisemitism which as we all know is all too rampant in our society.”
FBI Director Kash Patel mentioned the company was working with police to study extra and requested for prayers for the victims and their households.
Steve Jensen, assistant director in control of the FBI’s Washington discipline workplace, mentioned his crew was working to pin down whether or not the taking pictures might have been hate-motivated or doubtlessly an act of terrorism.
