2 Israeli Embassy staff members killed in shooting near Capital Jewish Museum in Northwest DC

A man and woman both staff members at the Israeli Embassy were killed in a shooting near the Capital Jewish Museum in Northwest D C on Wednesday night The shooting occurred near the museum in the block of rd Street NW around p m where an event the Young Diplomats Reception for young Jewish professionals was held Wednesday night The museum is located strategies away from the FBI s Washington Field Office D C Police Chief Pamela Smith reported at a news conference late Wednesday night a man now identified as -year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago approached a group of four people produced a handgun and opened fire striking the couple She added that Rodriguez then entered the museum and chanted Free free Palestine Rodriguez was detained by museum shield personnel and confessed to the crime A weapon was recovered from the scene Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar identified the couple as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim Lischinsky was a research assistant and Milgrim organized visits and missions to Israel D C Mayor Muriel Bowser mentioned at the news conference that the District executive will not tolerate this violence or hate in our city We will not tolerate any acts of terrorism and we re going to stand together as a neighborhood in the coming days and weeks to send a clear message that we will not tolerate antisemitism Ted Deutch the CEO of the American Jewish Committee the organization holding Wednesday night s event commented in a message on X We are devastated that an unspeakable act of violence took place outside the venue He added that while the organization waits for more information our attention and our hearts are solely with those who were harmed and their families Israel s ambassador to the United States Yechiel Michael Leiter described through tears that the couple that was killed were planning to get married and that the man had just purchased a ring with plans to propose in Jerusalem Their identities have not yet been made population They were a beautiful couple who came to enjoy an evening in Washington s cultural center he reported Leiter added that President Donald Trump contacted him to tell him his administration is going to do everything it can possibly do to fight and end antisemitism and the hatred that s being directed the demonization and delegitimization of the State of Israel Early Thursday morning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu s office mentioned he was shocked by the horrific antisemitic shooting We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and wild incitement against Israel he noted in a announcement Israel s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon called the shooting depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism We are confident that the US personnel will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives everywhere in the world Danon wrote in a post on X Police are asking the society to avoid the area Below is a map of where the shooting occurred WTOP s Alan Etter announced live from the scene Source