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Two Israeli embassy staff shot dead near Washington DC Jewish museum Two Israeli embassy staff shot dead near Washington DC Jewish museum
(about 3 hours later)
Police said a suspect was in custody after the shooting near the Capital Jewish MuseumPolice said a suspect was in custody after the shooting near the Capital Jewish Museum
A suspect is in custody after shooting dead two Israeli embassy staff outside a Jewish museum in Washington on Wednesday night.A suspect is in custody after shooting dead two Israeli embassy staff outside a Jewish museum in Washington on Wednesday night.
The gunman, named by police as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, approached a group of four people leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum and opened fire, killing a man and woman.The gunman, named by police as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, approached a group of four people leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum and opened fire, killing a man and woman.
Metropolitan police Chief Pamela Smith said the shooter had been pacing outside the museum, which is steps away from the FBI’s field office, before the shooting. Metropolitan police chief Pamela Smith said the shooter had been pacing outside the museum, which is steps away from the FBI’s field office, before the shooting.
After killing the pair, he walked inside where event security detained him. The suspect yelled, “Free, free Palestine” after he was arrested, police said. After killing the pair, he walked inside, where event security detained him. The suspect yelled: “Free, free Palestine,” after he was arrested, police said.
He was not on any security watchlists and there were no heightened security threats ahead of the shooting, officials said. The firearm was retrieved as well, officials said. He was not on any security watchlists and there were no heightened security threats before the shooting, officials said. The firearm was retrieved as well, officials said.
Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter said the victims were a young couple who were about to become engaged. The two victims of the shooting have been named as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. They were both Israeli embassy employees, and, according to the Israeli ambassador, Yechiel Leiter, they were a young couple who were about to become engaged.
Attorney general Pam Bondi, who was at the scene with US attorney Jeanine Pirro, said she had spoken to US president Donald Trump multiple times throughout the night. “Yaron and Sarah were our friends and colleagues,” the embassy said on X. “They were in the prime of their lives. This evening, a terrorist shot and killed them as they exited an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in DC.
Trump condemned the killings on Truth Social “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! 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!” “The entire embassy staff is heartbroken and devastated by their murder. No words can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss. Our hearts are with their families, and the embassy will be by their side during this terrible time.”
Spokesperson at the Israeli embassy in Washington Tal Naim Cohen said the staff members were shot at close range while attending a Jewish event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC. Lischinsky, 28, worked in the political department of the Israeli embassy in Washington.
According to the bio on his Times of Israel blog, Lischinsky had a master’s degree in government, diplomacy & strategy from Reichman University and a bachelor’s in international relations from Hebrew University.
He wrote on his LinkedIn page: “I’m an ardent believer in the vision that was outlined in the Abraham Accords and believe that expanding the circle of peace with our Arab neighbors and pursuing regional cooperation is in the best interest of the state of Israel and the Middle East as a whole. To this end, I advocate for interfaith dialogue and intercultural understanding.”
The US attorney general, Pam Bondi, who was at the scene with US attorney Jeanine Pirro, said she had spoken to the US president, Donald Trump, numerous times throughout the night.
Trump condemned the killings on Truth Social. “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! 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!”
A spokesperson at the Israeli embassy in Washington, Tal Naim Cohen, said the staff members were shot at close range while attending a Jewish event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC.
“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,” she said. “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,” she said.
FBI Director Kash Patel said he and his team had been briefed on the shooting. The FBI director, Kash Patel, said he and his team had been briefed on the shooting. “While we’re working with [Metropolitan Police Department] to respond and learn more, in the immediate, please pray for the victims and their families,” he wrote on X.
“While we’re working with [Metropolitan Police Department] to respond and learn more, in the immediate, please pray for the victims and their families,” he wrote on X. The Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, said he was devastated by the scenes in Washington.
Israeli president Isaac Herzog said he was “devastated” by the scenes in Washington. “This is a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism, which has claimed the lives of two young employees of the Israeli embassy. Our hearts are with the loved ones of those murdered and our immediate prayers are with the injured. I send my full support to the ambassador and all the embassy staff.”
“This is a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism, which has claimed the lives of two young employees of the Israeli embassy. Our hearts are with the loved ones of those murdered and our immediate prayers are with the injured. I send my full support to the Ambassador and all the embassy staff.” Last week, the Capital Jewish Museum was one of the local nonprofits in Washington awarded funding from a $500,000 grant programme to increase its security.
Last week, the Capital Jewish Museum was one of the local nonprofits in Washington awarded funding from a $500,000 grant program to increase its security. “We’re going to stand together as a community in the coming days and weeks to send the clear message that we will not tolerate antisemitism,” the DC mayor, Muriel Bowser, told reporters.
“We’re going to stand together as a community in the coming days and weeks to send the clear message that we will not tolerate anti-Semitism,” Mayor Muriel Bowser told reporters.
“There is no active threat in our community. What I do know is that the horrific incident is going to frighten a lot of people in our city, and in our country. I want to be clear that we will not tolerate this violence or hate.”“There is no active threat in our community. What I do know is that the horrific incident is going to frighten a lot of people in our city, and in our country. I want to be clear that we will not tolerate this violence or hate.”