Two Israeli embassy staff shot and killed in Washington

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Two Israeli embassy staff members have been shot and killed outside an event at the Jewish museum in Washington late on Wednesday, according to law enforcement officials.

The victims — a woman and a man — were gunned down at about 9pm as they were leaving a reception for young diplomats hosted by the American Jewish Committee, a leading Jewish organisation in the US.

Metropolitan Police Department chief Pamela Smith said a suspect was in custody, who officers had “tentatively” identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago.

He chanted “free, free Palestine” while in custody, Smith said.

Tal Naim Cohen, spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in Washington, said the staffers were “shot this evening at close range” in a post on the X social media platform.

She said they had been attending “a Jewish event” at the museum. “We have full faith in law enforcement authorities on both the local and federal levels to apprehend the shooter and protect Israel’s representatives and Jewish communities,” she added.

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog said he was “devastated” by the killings. “This is a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism,” he said. “We stand with the Jewish community in DC and across the US.”

US President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.”

Smith said police believed the suspect had acted alone. She said he “was observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum” before “he approached a group of four people, produced a handgun and opened fire”.

The suspect then entered the museum and was detained by security, she said. Smith said police had recovered the weapon used.

Kristi Noem, secretary of homeland security, wrote on X that the department would “bring this depraved perpetrator to justice”.

Steve Jensen, assistant director of the FBI’s Washington field office, said the bureau was investigating the shooting “as a terrorism and hate crime incident”.

Michael Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the US, said the victims were a 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.”

He added that he had spoken to Trump, who “told me that his administration is going to do everything they can possibly do to fight and end antisemitism and the hatred that’s being directed the demonisation and delegitimisation of the State of Israel”.

Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, called the shooting “a depraved act of antisemitic terrorism”.

He wrote on X: “Harming the Jewish community is crossing a red line. Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives — everywhere in the world.”

Chuck Schumer, Democratic leader in the Senate, said on X: “This sickening shooting seems to be another horrific instance of antisemitism which as we know is all too rampant in our society.”

Additional reporting by James Politi in Washington