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Washington, DC – May 22, 2025: Two Israeli embassy staff members were shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, on Wednesday night, in what authorities are investigating as a potential anti-Semitic attack. The suspect is in police custody.
The victims, a young man and woman who were reportedly about to be engaged, were attending a Jewish event near 3rd and F Streets NW, close to the museum, the FBI field office, and the U.S. attorney’s office. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. confirmed their identities as embassy staff.
Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, was seen pacing near the museum before the shooting. After his arrest, Rodriguez reportedly chanted “Free Palestine, Free Palestine.” Authorities noted he had no prior criminal record or known police contact.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio both strongly condemned the attack. President Donald Trump called it “obviously based on antisemitism” and urged an end to “hatred and radicalism” in a statement on Truth Social.
Israeli embassy spokesperson Tal Naim Cohen confirmed that the victims were shot at close range. FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau is coordinating with the Metropolitan Police Department in the investigation, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem vowed justice in a statement posted on X.
Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, described the incident as “a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism,” calling it a red line that must not be crossed. Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro were seen at the crime scene.
The investigation remains ongoing.
