Two staff members of Israel’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., were shot dead outside the city's Jewish Museum late on Wednesday. According to a report on CBS, others were wounded in the terror attack carried out by a white bearded man.
D.C. police said they arrested a suspect in the fatal shooting that took place during an event held by the American-Jewish Committee (AJC).
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 victims," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "So sad that such things as this can happen!"
Tal Naim Cohen, a spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in Washington, said two of its staff members were shot "at close range" while attending a Jewish event at the museum.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yehiel Leiter said the victims were a young couple who were engaged to be married. "They were a beautiful couple," he said. "We won’t be afraid — together we will overcome moral depravity."
Leiter said he had spoken with President Trump, who said his administration will do all it can to fight antisemitism and end the hate, incitement and delegitimization of the state of Israel.
UN Ambassador Danny Danon called the attack a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism.” He said harming diplomats and Jewish communities crosses a red line. "We are certain the authorities in the U.S. will act
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary of State Kristi Noem said in a post on X that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
"Two Israeli Embassy staff were senselessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC. We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share. Please pray for the families of the victims. We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice," she said in a post.
Ronn Torossian, chairman of Betar USA, said that the attack reflects a growing and dangerous trend of antisemitic violence targeting those affiliated with Israel.
"Betar US has long warned that Washington DC was a pro-Hamas ticking time bomb," Torossian said. "We are the most active Zionist group in the area and threatened on a regular basis.
He pointed to a separate incident earlier in the week in which a member of the anti-Israel group Code Pink was acquitted after allegedly assaulting the head of Betar Washington. “Earlier this week, a Code Pink jihadi was found not guilty in court after choking the leader of Betar Washington in front of a police officer,” he said.
"We call upon the Trump Administration to expedite the deportation of illegal pro-Hamas agitators nationwide and prevent the next terror attack against our people. There are many who will celebrate this attack on campuses nationwide. At Betar US we will redouble our efforts to stand against hate. Sadly as we mourn this loss we remind Jews Aliyah is the best solution. If staying in diaspora fight back. There’s no one coming to save the Jews.”
Washington Police Chief Pamela Smith identified the attacker as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, Illinois and said the attacker shouted "free Palestine" after he was arrested.
According to Smith, the two victims were shot as they were leaving the event at the museum, located near FBI headquarters in the nation's capital. Rodrigues was seen walking back and forth outside the Jewish Museum before approaching a group of four people, pulling out his gun and opening fire.
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He then entered the museum, where he was detained by security. He showed the guards where he had discarded his gun and indicated that he was behind the shooting.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described the attack as a "horrific act of terror."
Elias Rodriguez
(X)
President Isaac Herzog condemned the assault as a “terrible act of antisemitic terrorism.”
“This abhorrent attack is a terrible act of antisemitic terrorism,” Herzog said. “I send my deepest condolences to the families in this difficult time and pray for the recovery of the wounded.”
Expressing solidarity with the American Jewish community, Herzog added, “We stand with the Jewish community in Washington and across the United States, and I wish to send comfort and strength to the entire embassy staff.”
He emphasized the enduring bond between the two nations: “The United States and Israel will always stand united in defending our peoples and our shared values. We won’t let terror and hatred break us.”
Democratic Congresswoman and Israel critic Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned the attack. "Absolutely nothing justifies the murder of innocents. I am devastated by the killing of two people outside an event here in Washington. Our prayers are with the victims, families, and loved ones of all impacted," she said in a post. "As we await more details, we must be clear that hatred has no home here. Antisemitism is a threat to all we hold dear as a society. It must be confronted and rooted out everywhere.