Two Israeli embassy staffers were fatally shot on Wednesday night outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C, authorities said.
The suspect, who has been named as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, chanted “free, free Palestine” after he was arrested, said the DC police chief.
The shooting occurred around 9.15 pm outside the Capital Jewish Museum, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
One person is believed to have died shortly after the attac,k and a second was reportedly transported to a local hospital in critical condition and also died. The shooting was at “close range,” a spokesperson for the embassy said.
“Two staff members of the Israeli embassy were shot this evening at close range while attending a Jewish event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC,” Tal Naim Cohen, spokesperson at the Israeli embassy in Washington, said in a post on X.
“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.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also confirmed the news, writing on X: “Two Israeli Embassy staff were senselessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC.”
She added: “We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share. Please pray for the families of the victims. We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice.”
The identity of the arrested suspect has not been shared. However, the FBI reported shortly after the shooting that there was no ongoing threat to public safety.
According to Josh Kraushaar, editor in chief of the Jewish Insider, the event was an annual Young Diplomats Reception hosted by the American Jewish Committee’s DC Young Professional Board.
Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, confirmed to ABC News that the organization had hosted an event at the museum on Wednesday night.
“We are devastated that an unspeakable act of violence took place outside the venue,” he told the outlet. “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.”
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was at the scene of the “horrible shooting.” “Praying for the victims of this violence as we work to learn more,” she said.
Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, called the shooting a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism.”
“We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act,” Danon said in a post on X. “Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives — everywhere in the world.”
