2 Israeli Embassy Staffers Killed in Washington D.C. Shooting at Jewish Museum

Two Israeli embassy staff members were killed in the Jewish Museum in Washington late Wednesday.

Washington officials have confirmed that the shooter has been taken into custody. Detailing the shooting incident, police chief Pamela Smith said that the suspect has been tentatively identified as the 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, Illinois, and that he shouted Free Palestine while being arrested. The police chief said that the man was seen pacing outside the museum before opening fire, striking a man and a woman. However no details of a potential motive behind the shooting have been shared.

POLICE CHIEF PAMELA SMITH said in the conference

The preliminary investigation indicates that both victims were exiting at an event at the Capital Jewish Museum located in the 500 block of Third Street Northwest when the shooting occurred. We believe the shooting was committed by a single suspect who is now in custody. Prior to the shooting, the suspect was observed pacing back and forth outside the museum. He approached a group of four people, produced a handgun, and opened fire, striking both defendants.

MAYOR, WASHINGTON.D.C.-MURIEL BOWSER - SAID

           WE will not tolerate violence or hate in our city. We will not tolerate any acts of terrorism, and we're going to stand together as a community in the coming days and weeks to send a clear message that we will not tolerate.

Yaron and Sarah were our people.
Tonight, they were murdered in cold blood on American soil—for being Jewish, for being Israeli.

We are devastated. We are furious.
This was not “activism.” It was terrorism.

We will mourn.
But we will not be silent.
Am Yisrael Chai. 🇮🇱 https://t.co/LbFXRy1ZFC

— Hevel Molla הבל מולה (@AbelMolla) May 22, 2025