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Two Israeli embassy staffers were gunned down Wednesday night outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC, by a man police said had chanted “free, free Palestine” following his arrest.
One person is believed to have died shortly after the attack, which occurred at 9.15pm local time outside the Capital Jewish Museum, and the second victim was taken 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.
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.”
Writing on TruthSocial, US president Donald Trump immediately condemned the shooting as anti-Semitism.
“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!” he wrote.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he was "shocked" by the "horrific, antisemitic" shooting.
Mapped: Shooting happened near Capital Jewish Museum
The young couple was shot near the Capital Jewish Museum, in the area of 3rd and F Streets in Northwest, a part of central Washington that is about 1.3 miles (2 km) from the White House.
Alex Croft22 May 2025 07:30
What do we know about the suspect in custody?
Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said a man shot at a group of four people with a handgun, hitting both the victims. He was seen pacing outside the museum prior to the shooting.
The single suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, chanted "Free Palestine, Free Palestine," after being taken into custody, the police chief said.
"After the shooting, the suspect entered the museum and was detained by event security," Smith said.
"Once in handcuffs, the suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered, and he implied that he committed the offence."
Mr Rodriguez had no previous contact with police, she added.
Angus Thompson22 May 2025 07:27
Victims were a young couple about to become engaged
Two Israeli embassy staff fatally shot by a lone gunman outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC were a young couple about to become engaged, officials have said.
The two were shot and killed in the area of 3rd and F Streets in Northwest, a part of central Washington that is about 1.3 miles (2 km) from the White House.
Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the U.S., told reporters the young man killed had "purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem."
Angus Thompson22 May 2025 07:23
Two Israeli embassy staffers gunned down in Washington DC
Two Israeli embassy staffers were fatally shot Wednesday night outside a Jewish museum in Washington, DC.
Police say the suspect chanted “free, free Palestine” after he was arrested.
The shooting occurred around 9:15 p.m. outside the Capital Jewish Museum, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
One person is believed to have died shortly after the attack 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.
Angus Thompson22 May 2025 07:13
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The single suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, chanted \"Free Palestine, Free Palestine,\" after being taken into custody, the police chief said.
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\"After the shooting, the suspect entered the museum and was detained by event security,\" Smith said.
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\"Once in handcuffs, the suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered, and he implied that he committed the offence.\"
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Mr Rodriguez had no previous contact with police, she added.
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Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the U.S., told reporters the young man killed had \"purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem.\"
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Police say the suspect chanted “free, free Palestine” after he was arrested.
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The shooting occurred around 9:15 p.m. outside the Capital Jewish Museum, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
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One person is believed to have died shortly after the attack and a second was reportedly transported to a local hospital in critical condition and also died.
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The shooting was at “close range,” a spokesperson for the embassy said.
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\"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.
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