WASHINGTON: A shooting incident occurred near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, resulting in the deaths of two staff members from the Israeli Embassy, including one female.
According to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the incident took place near the museum and is under active investigation. She confirmed that the Israeli ambassador was not present at the scene at the time of the attack.
The Metropolitan Police Department reported that a 30-year-old man has been taken into custody as a suspect and is currently being questioned. Authorities say the suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, allegedly approached the victims and shot them at close range while reportedly shouting “Free, Free Palestine.”
Israeli Embassy officials confirmed the deceased were about to get engaged and were returning from a diplomatic event. The attack has been widely condemned as a potential act of antisemitism and politically motivated violence.
President Donald Trump called the attack “clearly an act of antisemitism,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog condemned the killings, linking them to rising global antisemitism. The Israeli government has since ordered a security review of its diplomatic missions worldwide.
The FBI and other federal agencies have joined local law enforcement in the ongoing investigation to determine the motive and any possible affiliations of the suspect.
