The suspect in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staff members outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday chanted “Free, Free Palestine” after being apprehended, according to D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith.
One man and one woman, both Israeli embassy employees, were shot and killed as they left an event on Wednesday night, according to officials.
“Two staff members of the Israeli embassy were shot at close range this evening while attending a Jewish event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC,” Israeli Embassy spokesperson Tal Naim Cohen said in a statement Wednesday night.
“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,” according to the statement.
The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, was apprehended at the scene and is being questioned by police, Smith said.
According to FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, early indications suggest that the shooting was a “targeted attack.”
The subject is currently being interviewed by DC Metro in collaboration with our FBI JTTF team.
“The US Attorney’s office is on scene with me, and our WFO management team, at the Washington Field Office reviewing the evidence to determine additional actions,” according to Bongino. “The shooting happened near our Washington Field Office.
Following the attack, our FBI police officer assigned to the external post on the WFO property responded quickly and rendered aid. Early indications suggest that this is a case of targeted violence. Our FBI team is fully engaged, and we will get you answers as soon as possible, without jeopardizing other leads.”
After the shooting, officials said Rodriguez attempted to enter the building where the event was taking place but was stopped by event security, Smith stated.
Once in custody, he implied that he was responsible for the shooting and began chanting “free, free Palestine,” according to Smith.
He also explained where he allegedly discarded the gun used in the shooting, which was quickly recovered, according to officials.
“There is no active threat,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser stated during a press conference at the Metropolitan Police Department.
“I want to be clear: we will not tolerate violence or hatred in our city. We will not tolerate any acts of terrorism, and we will unite as a community in the coming days and weeks to send a strong message that we will not tolerate anti-Semitism.”
Smith said that around 9:08 p.m., emergency call centers began receiving reports of a shooting in the area.
When emergency responders arrived, the man and one woman were found unresponsive, she said. According to sources, at least one of the victims was initially taken to a local hospital in critical condition.
Officials confirmed that the two victims were exiting the museum when the incident occurred.
“The couple that was gunned down tonight were about to be engaged,” Israeli ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said at the press conference. “The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing next week in Jerusalem.”
He also revealed that on Wednesday evening, he received a call from President Donald Trump, who pledged the United States’ support in combating anti-Semitism.
Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, confirmed to ABC News that the AJC held an event at the museum on Wednesday night, saying, “We are devastated that an unspeakable act of violence occurred outside the venue.” At the moment, as we await more information from the police about what happened, our focus and hearts are solely on those who were harmed and their families.
The incident occurred near the FBI field office in D.C. A top FBI spokesperson confirmed on X that the bureau was present at the scene, working with the Metropolitan Police Department.
“FBI personnel are on the scene and working with MPD to respond. “We’ll issue a statement soon and share more information as we can,” Ben Williamson wrote.
United States Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro arrived at the scene shortly after the incident, Bondi stated in a post on X.
“Praying for the victims of this violence as we work to learn more,” she wrote in a message.
Following the shooting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement saying he was “shocked” by the murder of two Israeli Embassy employees in Washington, DC.
“The Prime Minister spoke with Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, and received an immediate update on the details of the incident,” according to the declaration. “The Prime Minister sends strength to the Ambassador and the embassy employees.”
“My heart aches for the families of the beloved young man and woman, whose lives were cut short by a heinous anti-Semitic murderer,” Netanyahu told the crowd. “I have instructed to increase security arrangements at Israeli missions around the world and security for representatives of the state.”
Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, described the shooting as a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism” in a post on X.
“Harming diplomats and the Jewish community is crossing a red line,” he wrote in his essay.
On X, US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated, “We are actively investigating and working to gather more information to share.” Please pray for the families of the victims. We will bring the depraved perpetrator to justice.”
