A young Israeli couple, both staffers at the embassy and planning to get engaged, were shot dead on Wednesday night outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC.
The tragic incident occurred as they were leaving an event at the museum, located near 3rd and F Streets in the northwest part of the city, just over a mile from the White House, Reuters reports.
Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith confirmed that a man opened fire on a group of four individuals with a handgun, striking both victims fatally.
She said, “After the shooting, the suspect entered the museum and was detained by event security.
“Once in handcuffs, the suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered, and he implied that he committed the offence.”
The attacker, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, was reportedly seen pacing outside the museum before the shooting and shouted, “Free Palestine, Free Palestine,” after being apprehended. Smith noted the suspect had no prior police record.
Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the United States, shared a poignant detail about the male victim, saying, “He purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem.”
Former U.S. President Donald Trump reacted strongly to the killings.
“These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!” he wrote on Truth Social. “Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also condemned the attack, stating, “We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and wild incitement against the State of Israel. The blood libels against Israel are rising in blood and must be fought to the bitter end.”
The American Jewish Committee hosted the event where the shooting took place, described online as the “Young Diplomats Reception,” aimed at bringing together Jewish professionals and the Washington diplomatic community.
The murders are expected to intensify political debate in both Israel and the United States. In Washington, the attack adds fuel to the already divisive discourse around the Gaza conflict.
Trump has already accused pro-Palestinian demonstrations of being antisemitic and taken steps to penalise U.S. universities allegedly supporting them.
Deputy FBI Director Don Bongino said, “Early indicators are that this is an act of targeted violence. Our FBI team is fully engaged and we will get you answers as soon as we can, without compromising additional leads.”
At the scene, mourners gathered to honour the slain couple.
“When a member of the community gets murdered and gets killed for who he is, we stand proud, we stand strong, and we never give up,” said Aaron Shemtov, a rabbinical student from California.
Rabbi Levi Shemtov, executive vice president of American Friends of Lubavitch, reflected, “It's very sad to see that instead of these people coming to the ultimate celebration of their life – they were about to get engaged – they get shot dead in the street just because of who they are.”