Two Israeli Embassy Staffers Shot and Killed Outside Jewish Museum in D.C.

Two staff members from the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. were shot and killed Wednesday evening while leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. The suspect shouted “Free, free Palestine” after he was arrested, according to police.

The victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were leaving the event when the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, approached and opened fire. The event was hosted by the American Jewish Committee.

“American Jewish Committee (AJC) can confirm that we hosted an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. this evening. We are devastated that an unspeakable act of violence took place outside the venue,” American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch said in a statement. “At this moment, as we await more information from the police about exactly what transpired, our attention and our hearts are solely with those who were harmed and their families.”

D.C. police chief Pamela A. Smith briefed reporters last night, noting that the suspect was seen pacing outside the museum before approaching the group and firing with a handgun multiple times. He was detained by the venue security before the police arrived, and is currently in police custody.

Smith confirmed police “have not had any prior interactions” with the suspect. She added, “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.”

Yechiel Leiter, Israel‘s ambassador to the U.S., told reporters that the two people killed were a young couple about to be engaged. “The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem,” Leiter said. “They were a beautiful couple.”

President Donald Trump responded to the incident on his Truth Social, writing, “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!”
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Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that she visited the scene of the shooting. “Praying for the victims of this violence as we work to learn more,” Bondi wrote on X. She added she was there with former judge Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney in Washington whose office would prosecute the case.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a statement he is “devastated” by the scenes in D.C. “This is a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism, which has claimed the lives of two young employees of the Israeli embassy,” Herzog said. “Our hearts are with the loved ones of those murdered and our immediate prayers are with the injured. I send my full support to the Ambassador and all the embassy staff. We stand with the Jewish community in DC and across the US. America and Israel will stand united in defense of our people and our shared values. Terror and hate will not break us.”

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government is tightening security for Israel’s outposts worldwide. “We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and the wild incitement against the State of Israel,” he said in a statement. “The blood libels against Israel are paid in blood, and we must fight them relentlessly. My heart aches for the families of the beloved young man and woman, whose lives were suddenly cut short by a vile antisemitic murderer.”

The shooting occurred as the conflict between Israel and Hamas has escalated in recent weeks. Israel has been blocking aid deliveries to Gaza since March, resulting in a lack of food and medical aid in the region. Last night, the United Nations it had dispatched “around 90 truckloads of goods” into Gaza, but that is only a fraction of what is needed to prevent an imminent famine. Israel’s military has also been attacking Gaza with notable force, including hospitals, schools, and shelters, causing dozens of deaths per day.
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The event at the Jewish Capital Museum was focused on how to help the people of Gaza, according to American Jewish Committee board member JoJo Kalin. “I’m not going to lose my humanity over this or be deterred,” she said, per the BBC. “And that Israelis and Palestinians both still deserve self determination and [it is] just deeply ironic that that’s what we were discussing. It was bridge building and then we were all hit over the hide with such hatred.“

Updated with the names of the victims and Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement on May 22 at 4:13 a.m ET