2 Israeli embassy staffers killed in Washington, D.C. shooting

Thomson Reuters

· Posted: May 21, 2025 11:59 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

Two Israeli embassy unit were killed successful a shooting extracurricular an lawsuit astatine the Capital Jewish Museum successful Washington, DC, connected Wednesday night, and a fishy is successful custody, officials said.

A antheral and a pistillate were changeable and killed successful the country of 3rd and F streets successful Northwest which is adjacent the museum, an FBI tract bureau and the U.S. attorney's office. They were a young mates astir to beryllium engaged to beryllium married, the Israeli ambassador said.

Washington constabulary main Pamela Smith said a azygous fishy who was seen pacing extracurricular the depository earlier the lawsuit was successful custody. The fishy chanted "Free Palestine, Free Palestine," successful custody, she said.

Smith said the suspect, tentatively identified arsenic 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, had nary erstwhile interaction with police.

Tal Naim Cohen, a spokesperson for the Israeli embassy successful Washington, said 2 of its unit members were changeable "at adjacent range" portion attending a Jewish lawsuit astatine the museum.

The Israeli embassy did not instantly respond to questions astir the shooter, the victims oregon the motive for the attack.

Mayor Muriel Bowser said astatine a property league Wednesday night there is nary progressive menace to the public.

In a station connected Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed condolences to the families of the victims and condemned the shooting.

"These horrible D.C. killings, based evidently connected antisemitism, indispensable end, NOW!" helium said successful a connection connected Truth Social. "Hatred and Radicalism person nary spot successful the USA."

Israeli President Isaac Herzog and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio besides condemned the incident.

Tal Naim Cohen, a spokesperson for the Israeli embassy successful Washington, said 2 of its unit members were changeable "at adjacent range" portion attending a Jewish lawsuit astatine the museum.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said successful a station connected X: "We volition bring this depraved perpetrator to justice."

FBI Director Kash Patel said helium and his squad had been briefed connected the shooting.

"While we're moving with [Metropolitan Police Department] to respond and larn more, successful the immediate, delight commune for the victims and their families," helium wrote connected X.

Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, called the shooting "a depraved enactment of anti-Semitic terrorism."

"Harming diplomats and the Jewish assemblage is crossing a reddish line," Danon said successful a station connected X. "We are assured that the US authorities volition instrumentality beardown enactment against those liable for this transgression act."

Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro were connected the country of the shooting.

'This lawsuit was astir humanitarian aid'

Yoni Kalin and Katie Kalisher were wrong the depository erstwhile they heard gunshots and a antheral came wrong looking distressed, they said.

Kalin said radical came to his assistance and brought him water, reasoning helium needed help, without realizing helium was the suspect.

When constabulary arrived, helium pulled retired a reddish keffiyeh and repeatedly yelled, "Free Palestine,'" Kalin said.

"This lawsuit was astir humanitarian aid," Kalin said. "How tin we really assistance some the radical successful Gaza and the radical successful Israel? How tin we bring unneurotic Muslims and Jews and Christians to enactment unneurotic to really assistance guiltless people? And past present helium is conscionable murdering 2 radical successful acold blood."

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington said successful a connection that they are horrified by the shooting and "mourn the nonaccomplishment of the 2 individuals killed successful the attack."

"Our hearts are with their families and loved ones, and with each of those who are impacted by this tragic enactment of antisemitic violence," the federation said.