Two Israeli embassy staff shot dead in Washington: suspect shouted “Free Palestine”

Two staff members of the Israeli embassy were shot and killed while leaving an event in support of Gazans at the capital Jewish museum in Washington, DC.

The two victims, a man and a woman, were leaving the event, organised by the  American Jewish Committee, when 30-year-old suspect Elias Rodriguez approached and opened fire.

Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said the suspect was seen pacing outside the museum before the shooting, walked into the museum after the shooting and was detained by event security.

When he was taken into custody, Rodriguez began chanting, ‘free, free Palestine,’ Smith said.

Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s US Ambassador, told a news conference the two killed were a ‘beautiful’ soon-to-be engaged couple.

The shooting took place in central DC (Picture: Metro.co.uk)

‘The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem,’ he said.

Event organiser JoJo Klin told the BBC: ‘I’m not going to lose my humanity over this or be deterred. Israelis and Palestinians both still deserve self-determination, and it is deeply ironic that that’s what we were discussing.

‘It was bridge building, and then we were all hit over the head with such hatred.’

Chief Smith added that authorities had not had any ‘prior interactions’ with the suspect: ‘We don’t see anything in his background that would have placed him on our radar.”

‘Our joint terrorism task force is working very closely with the FBI to ensure that we can do a deep dive into his background.’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said security at embassies around the world is going to be increased.

He said: ‘My heart aches for the families of the beloved young man and woman, whose lives were cut short by a heinous antisemitic murderer.’

What have political leaders said?

Terrorism police are working with local authorities (Picture: NBC)

Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was at the scene with former judge Jeanine Pirro, who serves as the US attorney in Washington.

Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, called the shooting a ‘depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism’.

‘We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act,’ Mr Danon said in a post on X.

‘Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives everywhere in the world.’

President Donald Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social: ‘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!’

The city’s mayor, Muriel Bowser, has said there is no active threat to the community and they would ‘not tolerate this violence or hate in our city.’

Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote: ‘This is a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism. Our hearts are with the loved ones of those murdered, and our immediate prayers are with the injured.’