The suspect in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staff members outside Washington, D.C.’s Capital Jewish Museum is from Chicago, according to police. The shooting occurred in the area of 3rd and F streets in Northwest, right in front of the Capital Jewish Museum and behind the FBI field office and the U.S. attorney’s office. Elias Rodriguez, a 33-year-old man from Chicago, is the suspected shooter, as confirmed by law enforcement officials.
“Two Israeli Embassy staff were senselessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC. We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share. Please pray for the families of the victims,” expressed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The tragic incident involved a man opening fire, injuring a man and a woman. The suspect allegedly shouted, “Free Palestine” while being apprehended, according to three senior law enforcement officials.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, took to social media to report that Israeli embassy employees were harmed in the deadly shooting. He condemned the act as “a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism.” The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is currently responding to the situation, as revealed by sources familiar with the shooting. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi also visited the scene, expressing her prayers for the victims and the ongoing efforts to gather more information. The location of the shooting is only a few blocks away from D.C. police headquarters, adding to the gravity of the situation. The D.C. government recently allocated half a million dollars in grants to local nonprofits to assist in covering security expenses. One of the beneficiaries, the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum, raised concerns about security, particularly with a new exhibit focusing on the LGBTQ community.
