Two staff members of Israel’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., got shot dead outside the district’s Capital Jewish Museum, officials said. The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, in his early 30s, of Chicago, was taken into custody, according to Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith at a news conference. The victims of the shooting were identified by the Israeli embassy to the U.S. as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim.
Yaron and Sarah were described as friends and colleagues in a post on social media by the embassy. The tragic incident occurred as they were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in DC. The entire embassy staff is devastated by their murder. The man who opened fire shouted, “Free Palestine” during his arrest, as per four senior law enforcement officials briefed on the shooting. Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter mentioned that the victims were a young couple about to get engaged, with the man planning to propose in Jerusalem next week.
President Donald Trump condemned the violence, expressing his condolences to the victims’ families and emphasizing the need to end such antisemitic acts. The shooting took place in an area surrounded by law enforcement, behind the FBI field office and the U.S. attorney’s office, with the D.C. police headquarters nearby. The couple were leaving an event at the museum when the suspect approached them and opened fire, resulting in their tragic deaths.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon labeled the shooting as “a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism” in a social media post. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi visited the scene, offering prayers for the victims as investigations continue. The Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum, a recipient of a security grant from the D.C. government, expressed serious concerns about security following the incident.
The fatal shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum has left the Israeli Embassy in shock and mourning the loss of two valued members. The senseless act of violence has raised concerns about security in the area and the need for increased vigilance. As investigations unfold, the embassy is left grappling with the devastating loss of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, who were described as bright and promising individuals in the prime of their lives.
The incident has prompted strong reactions from officials and the community, with calls for justice and an end to such acts of hatred. The details of the shooting paint a grim picture of the events that unfolded that evening, leaving a young couple’s future shattered and a community in mourning. As the investigation progresses, questions about the motives behind the attack linger, underscoring the need for unity and vigilance in the face of senseless violence.
