SARAH MOSKOWITZ, DANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD, JAMES GENN
The shooting occurred in front of the museum where an event was being held by the American Jewish Committee.
Two people were killed in a shooting outside the Washington Capital Jewish Museum. / (photo credit: SCREENSHOT/X, SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT)
Two Israeli embassy staff members were shot and killed in front of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington on Wednesday night.
The suspect shouted “Free Palestine” while being arrested, Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Pamela Smith announced, adding that the suspect was also seen pacing outside of the museum before the event took place.
MPD later identified the suspect as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, with MPD’s chief commenting that Rodriguez was not known to the police before the incident. Earlier reports described him as “having a goatee, wearing a blue jacket and blue jeans.”
Tal Naim, an embassy spokesperson, confirmed that the two were attending a Jewish cultural event at the museum when the shooting took place.
“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,” they added.
Young couple engaged to be married
According to Israeli Ambassador to Washington, Yechiel (Michael) Leiter, the two were a young couple who had recently become engaged to be married.
The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force is currently investigating the incident. FBI Director Kash Patel added that his team has been briefed and is working with MPD to investigate.
MPD are slated to hold a press conference “shortly.”
Two Israeli embassy staff members killed in shooting outside Jewish Museum in Washington