2 Israeli Embassy staff shot and killed outside Jewish Museum in D.C.

Two Israeli Embassy employees, a man and a woman, were shot and killed Wednesday night as they exited the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., officials said. A suspect is in custody. 

In a late-night news conference, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith said the shooting was reported at 9:08 p.m. local time outside the museum, which is located near an FBI field office. 

Smith said the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, of Chicago, was initially “observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum” before he approached a group of four people, “produced a handgun,” and shot the two victims. 

Responding officers arrived at the scene to find the victims with gunshot wounds, unconscious and not breathing, the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department told CBS News. 

“We believe the shooting was committed by a single suspect who is now in custody,” Smith said. 

Two law enforcement sources told CBS News the shooting appears to have been a targeted attack.   

The suspect entered the museum immediately following the shooting and was arrested by museum security, the police chief reported. 

“The suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered,” Smith said, adding that he “implied that he committed the offense.”

Smith said he “chanted ‘free, free Palestine,’ while in custody.” 

Yechiel Leiter, Israeli ambassador to the U.S., told reporters the two victims were a couple about to become engaged.   

“The couple that was gunned down tonight in the name of Free Palestine was a young couple about to be engaged,” Leiter said. “The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem. They were a beautiful couple who came to enjoy an evening in Washington’s cultural center.”

Leiter said he spoke to President Trump by phone following the shooting, as did U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who attended the news conference and earlier said that she responded to the scene of the shooting. 

“I spoke to the president of the United States multiple times tonight,” Bondi said. “On behalf of the president, his prayers are with all of us, all of the Jewish community, all of us in Washington, D.C.”

Mr. Trump later wrote on Truth Social that, “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. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!”

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a statement that he’s “shocked” by the…