Two Israeli Embassy Staffers Murdered By Man Shouting ‘Free Palestine’ In DC

[ad_1] Two Israeli embassy employees have been shot and killed exterior of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. round 9:10 p.m. on Wednesday night time by a person shouting “Free Palestine,” police mentioned.

The assault got here exterior the Younger Diplomats Reception 2025 hosted for younger Jewish professionals by the American Jewish Committee, and two staffers have been shot at shut vary, based on a spokesperson for the Israeli embassy.

D.C. police chief Pamela Smith mentioned that each victims died on the scene after being shot by 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, who's now in custody.

“The suspect chanted free, free Palestine whereas in custody,” Smith mentioned. “The suspect is 30-year-year Elias Rodriguez of Chicago.”

D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith offered an replace on the Israeli couple who have been murdered tonight in D.C.

She acknowledged that the shooter is 30-year-old Elias Rodrigues of Chicago, who's now in custody. pic.twitter.com/pKXA9R9HBm

— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) Could 22, 2025

The FBI mentioned there may be “no ongoing risk to public security” in a press release.

“These horrible D.C. killings, based mostly clearly on antisemitism, should finish, NOW!” President Donald Trump posted on Thursday night time. “Hatred and Radicalism don't have any place within the USA. Condolences to the households of the victims. So unhappy that things like this may occur! God Bless You ALL!”

Lawyer Common Pam Bondi confirmed she was on the scene of the “horrible capturing,” the place she was joined by DC U.S. Lawyer Jeannine Pirro after the incident.

Talking on the information convention, Bondi mentioned the suspect Rodriguez shall be “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the legislation.”

“We’ll be doing every little thing in our energy to maintain all residents protected—particularly tonight, our Jewish group,” Bondi mentioned. “Our prayers exit.”

In line with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter, the 2 Israeli embassy employees killed tonight have been a younger couple who have been about to get engaged.

“The couple that was gunned down in tonight within the identify of free Palestine is a pair that was about to be engaged,” he mentioned. “The younger man bought a hoop this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend subsequent week in Jerusalem. They have been a ravishing couple who got here to get pleasure from a night in Washington’s cultural heart.”

Israeli Amb. Yechiel Leiter says the Israelis murdered have been a younger couple.

"The couple that was gunned down in tonight within the identify of free Palestine is a pair that was about to be engaged. The younger man bought a hoop this week with the intention of proposing." pic.twitter.com/AolvLgWG1p

— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) Could 22, 2025

President Donald Trump known as Leiter after the incident and promised justice, Leiter mentioned.

Secretary of Homeland Safety Kristi Noem confirmed the capturing in a press release.

“We're actively investigating and dealing to get extra data to share,” she tweeted. “Please pray for the households of the victims. We are going to convey this wicked perpetrator to justice.”

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, known as the homicide a “wicked act of anti-Semitic terrorism,”

“Harming the Jewish group is crossing a purple line,” Danon mentioned. “We're assured that the U.S. authorities will take robust motion in opposition to these liable for this prison act. Israel will proceed to behave resolutely to guard its residents and representatives – all over the place on this planet.”

The deadly capturing that befell exterior the occasion that befell on the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. is a wicked act of anti-Semitic terrorism. Harming the Jewish group is crossing a purple line. We're assured that the US authorities will take robust motion in opposition to… pic.twitter.com/mVyXHjGyxU

— Danny Danon 🇮🇱 דני דנון (@dannydanon) Could 22, 2025

“American Jewish Committee (AJC) can affirm that we hosted an occasion on the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. this night,” AJC CEO Ted Deutch mentioned in a press release. “We're devastated that an unspeakable act of violence befell exterior the venue. At this second, as we await extra data from the police about precisely what transpired, our consideration and our hearts are solely with those that have been harmed and their households.”

The attacker reportedly entered the occasion after the capturing and requested for water and a protected house earlier than placing on a keffiyeh and shouting free Palestine, a witness mentioned, in accordance to Jewish Insider editor in chief Josh Kraushaar.