Two Israeli embassy staff shot dead outside Jewish museum in Washington

New Delhi, May 22: Two staff members of the Israeli embassy, a man and a woman, were shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in downtown Washington on Wednesday night in what officials believe was a targeted attack.

According to reporting by the BBC and its U.S. media partner CBS News, the victims were leaving an event at the museum around 9:05 p.m. local time when they were shot at close range near 3rd and F Streets NW.

The area is a high-security zone, home to several museums, tourist attractions, and federal buildings, including the FBI’s Washington field office.

“This was a senseless act of violence,” said U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter). “Please pray for the families of the victims. We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice.”

The shooting sparked an immediate and heavy police response, leading to the shutdown of multiple streets in central Washington. The victims have not yet been publicly identified.

The Israeli embassy confirmed the two victims were employees and said they were shot while attending a community event at the museum.