Two Israeli embassy staffers have been killed outside a Jewish museum in downtown Washington DC by a man who police say shouted “free, free Palestine” after the attack.
The victims, a young couple, were shot while exiting an event at the Capital Jewish Museum, DC police said, adding that the incident appears targeted.
The shooting happened at 21:05 local time in an area with numerous tourist sites, museums and government buildings, including the FBI’s Washington field office.
After the suspect, who has been detained by authorities, opened fire, he walked inside the museum and was stopped by security, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said.
The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, was seen pacing outside the museum before opening fire on a group of four – killing the couple, Chief Smith said at a news conference.
Israeli ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter shared at the conference that the couple killed were planning to get engaged.
Mr Leiter said the male victim had purchased a ring this week and had planned to propose on a trip they’d planned to Jerusalem. The victims’ names have not been released.
“Two Israeli Embassy staff were senselessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC,” US Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem posted on X. “Please pray for the families of the victims. We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice.”
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations called the incident a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism”.
“Harming diplomats and the Jewish community is crossing a red line,” Ambassador Danny Danon wrote on X. “We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act.”
The incident triggered a major police response and shut down several core streets in the city.
A spokesman for the Israeli embassy confirmed that two staff members were shot “at close range” while attending the event at the museum.
“We have full faith in law enforcement authorities on both the local and federal levels to apprehend the shooter and protect Israel’s representatives and Jewish communities throughout the United States,” said spokesman Tal Naim Cohen.
The Israeli ambassador was reportedly not at the museum event at the time of the shooting, US media reported.
The DC campus of Georgetown University also was temporarily locked down, according to CBS.
“When we went to leave the cops and security were downstairs and told us we can’t leave,” said one student, who was on lockdown in their building for over an hour.
“And they are still here telling us we can’t leave.”
President Donald Trump posted on Truth calling for an end to “horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism”.
“Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!”, his post said.
Ted Deutch, the CEO of the American Jewish Committee, said in a statement that his organisation was hosting the event where the attack occurred.
“We are devastated that an unspeakable act of violence took place outside the venue,” he said.
“At this moment, as we await more information from the police about exactly what transpired, our attention and our hearts are solely with those who were harmed and their families.”
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee posted to X to call the attack a “horrific act of terror that the people of Israel are waking up to this morning”.
The Capital Jewish Museum like many other Jewish institutions in the US has struggled with security issues amid rising antisemitism.
