Israeli Embassy staffers shot dead outside D.C.'s Capital Jewish Museum

Two staff members of Israel s Embassy in Washington D C were shot dead outside the district s Capital Jewish Museum functionaries explained Two Israeli Embassy staff were senselessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC We are actively analyzing and working to get more information to share Please pray for the families of the casualties Homeland Precaution Secretary Kristi Noem disclosed on X A suspect was taken into custody Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith declared at a news conference He was identified Elias Rodriguez from Chicago Four senior law enforcement functionaries briefed on the shooting advised NBC News the man opened fire hitting a man and woman The man shouted Free Palestine while he was being arrested three senior law enforcement officers mentioned Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter announced they were a young couple about to get engaged He had just purchased a ring and intended to propose next week in Jerusalem President Donald Trump condemned the violence These horrible D C killings based obviously on antisemitism must end NOW Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA Condolences to the families of the casualties So sad that such things as this can happen he shared on social media The shooting took place before p m in the area of rd and F streets in Northwest an area surrounded by law enforcement It s behind the FBI field office and the U S attorney s office D C police headquarters is just a couple of blocks away The couple were leaving an event at the museum when the man who had been seen pacing in front of the museum approached a group of four people and opened fire striking the casualties Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith explained First responders unveiled the casualties unconscious at the scene Life-saving efforts did not save them The suspect then entered the building and was taken into custody by event staff police revealed He narrated them where he had put the gun and implied he was the shooter Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon posted on the social media platform X that Israeli embassy employees were injured in the fatal shooting He called it a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism The FBI s Joint Terrorism Task Force is responding sources familiar with the shooting explained NBC Washington U S Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X that she went to the scene Praying for the casualties of this violence as we work to learn more she wrote The D C executive just now disclosed a half million dollars in grants for local nonprofits to help offset protection costs One recipient is the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum which disclosed it has serious concerns about safeguard not just because they are a Jewish organization but also due to a new exhibit focused on the LGBTQ population This is a emerging story Check back for updates