Officials said two Israeli embassy staff were killed in a shooting at the Jewish Museum in the capital of Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night.
According to media reports, a man and a woman were shot dead in the Northwest Third and F Street areas, located near the museum, the FBI Field Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Washington Police Chief Pamela Smith said a suspect was found outside the museum before being detained in the event. She said the suspect chanted “Free Palestine, Free Palestine”.
Smith said the suspect was Elias Rodriguez, 30, who did not know police. She said police had not had contact with Rodriguez before.
Tal Naim Cohen, spokesman for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, said two of his staff were shot and killed while attending a Jewish event at the museum.
The Israeli embassy did not immediately answer questions about shooters, victims or motives for the attack.
“Tonight, two Israeli embassy staff members were killed ignorantly tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote in an article on X.
“We will bring this fallen perpetrator to justice.”
Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a press conference Wednesday night that there was no proactive threat to the public.
The Israeli ambassador to the United States said the two victims were a young couple who were engaged. He said he spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump after the shooting.
Trump expressed condolences to the victims' families in a post about the “Society of Truth” and accused anti-Semitism shootings.
FBI Director Kash Patel said he and his team had briefed the shooting.
“When we have [Metropolitan Police Department] To respond immediately and learn more, please pray for the victim and their families. ” he wrote on X.
Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon called the shooting a “degenerate anti-Semitism act.”
Dannon said in an article on X: “The harm of diplomats and the Jewish community are crossing the red line.
District of Columbia Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Attorneys are in the shooting.
“This incident is about humanitarian aid”
They said that when Yoni Kalin and Katie Kalisher heard the gunshots, they were inside the museum and a man looked painful.
Carlin said people came to help him, brought him water, thought he needed help without realizing he was the suspect.
When the police arrived, he pulled out a red keffiyeh and repeatedly shouted, “Free Palestine,” Kalin said.
“This incident is about humanitarian aid,” Kalin said. “How do we really help people in Gaza and people in Israel? How do we unite Muslims, Jews and Christians, work together, and really help innocent people? Then, he just murdered two people in cold blood.”
The Jewish Union in Greater Washington said in a statement that they were shocked by the shooting and “mothered the loss of the two people who died in the attack.”
“Our hearts are with their families and loved ones, and all those who have suffered from such tragic acts of anti-Semitic violence,” the Federation said.
