When the suspect in Wednesday's shooting deaths of two Israeli embassy employees outside of a Capital Jewish Museum event in Washington, D.C., screamed "Free, Free Palestine" after being apprehended, according to D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith.
Officials reported that one man and one lady, both employees of the Israeli embassy, were shot and killed as they left an event on Wednesday night.
In a statement released Wednesday evening, Israeli Embassy in Washington spokeswoman Tal Naim Cohen said, "Two Israeli embassy employees were shot this evening at close range while attending a Jewish event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC."
The statement went on to say, "We have complete confidence in law enforcement agencies at the local and federal levels to capture the gunman and safeguard Israel's officials and Jewish communities across the United States."
According to Smith, police are currently questioning the suspect, who was quickly arrested at the scene and identified as Chicago resident Elias Rodriguez, 30.
According to FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, preliminary evidence suggests that the shooting was a "targeted strike."
Together with our FBI JTTF team, DC Metro is now interviewing the subject.
According to Bongino, "myself and our WFO management team are at the Washington Field Office with the US Attorney's office on scene, evaluating the evidence to determine additional actions." "The shooting took place not far from our Field Office in Washington. Following the incident, our FBI police officer, who was stationed at the external post on the WFO property, came right away and helped. There are early signs that this is a targeted violent act. Our FBI team is totally focused on getting you answers as quickly as possible without jeopardizing other leads."
Rodriguez tried to enter the building where the event was being held after the shooting, but event security stopped him, according to officials, Smith said.
He started chanting, "free, free Palestine," after being taken into custody, implying that he was the shooter, Smith added.
He also described the location where he allegedly left the shooting gun, which authorities say was quickly found.
"There is no active danger," Mayor Muriel Bowser of D.C. stated at the Metropolitan Police Department press conference.
"I want to make it clear that our city will not put up with this bigotry or violence. In the upcoming days and weeks, we will unite as a community to make it abundantly evident that we will not put up with acts of terrorism or anti-Semitism."
In the meantime, President Donald Trump issued a comment regarding the shooting on his Truth Social social media platform, stating: "These terrible D.C. murders, which are clearly motivated by antisemitism, have to stop immediately! The USA is not a place for radicalism or hatred. Sending condolences to the victims' families. How tragic that such occurrences can occur! May God bless everyone.
Around 9:08 p.m., Smith said, emergency call centers started getting calls about a shooting in the neighborhood.
She added that the guy and one woman were discovered at the site, not breathing, when emergency personnel arrived. According to sources who spoke to ABC News, at least one of the victims was initially sent to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
Officials verified that the incident happened while the two victims were leaving the museum event.
During the news briefing, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter stated, "The couple that was shot down tonight were about to be engaged." "The young man planned to pop the question in Jerusalem the following week, so he bought a ring this week."
He added that President Donald Trump had called him on Wednesday night and assured him that the United States would fight anti-Semitism.
"We are saddened that a terrible act of violence took occurred outside the venue," Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, said ABC News after confirming that the AJC had held an event inside the museum on Wednesday night. Our emotions and focus are only with the people who were hurt and their families at this time, while we wait for the police to provide further details about exactly what happened."
The event happened close to the D.C. FBI field office. There was an FBI presence at the location collaborating with the Metropolitan Police Department, according to a senior FBI spokesperson who shared the information on X.
"MPD and FBI personnel are responding on the scene. Ben Williamson tweeted, "We will make a statement soon and give additional information as we can."
Shortly after the event, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro visited the scene, according to a post on X by Bondi.
She stated, "As we seek to understand more, we are praying for the victims of this atrocity."
A statement following the attack said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was "shocked" by the killing of two Israeli Embassy staff in Washington, D.C.
"The Prime Minister received an instant update on the incident's specifics after speaking with Yechiel Leiter, Israel's Ambassador to the United States," the statement read. "The ambassador and the embassy staff receive strength from the prime minister."
"The family of the cherished young man and woman, whose lives were shortened by a horrible anti-Semitic killer, are deeply saddened," Netanyahu stated. "I have directed that security measures be strengthened for state representatives and at Israeli missions worldwide."
The shooting was described as a "depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism" by Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon in a post on X.
He wrote, "There is a red line when it comes to harming diplomats and the Jewish community."
On X, Secretary Kristi Noem of the US Department of Homeland Security stated, "We are actively looking into this and trying to obtain additional information to provide. Please offer up prayers for the victims' families. We are going to hold this horrible criminal accountable.
