An armed man wearing a keffiyeh shouted “Free Palestine” before fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy officials outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, during an American Jewish Committee diplomatic event. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation, treating it as a targeted act of anti-Semitic terrorism.
Around 9:15 p.m., Thursday evening, gunfire erupted outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, located on the 300 block of F Street NW, near the FBI’s Washington Field Office and close to Judiciary Square. Two Israeli embassy officials were killed.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene when the assailant, identified by police as a white male wearing a keffiyeh, a blue jacket, blue jeans, and sporting a goatee, shouted “Free Palestine” before opening fire.
President Donald Trump condemned the attack: “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! G-d Bless You ALL!”
Attorney General Pamela Bondi arrived at the crime scene shortly afterward with U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, stating, “Praying for the victims of this violence as we work to learn more.”
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem confirmed the fatalities of two Israeli embassy staff members, calling the killings “senseless” and promising swift justice. Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, described the attack as a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism,” adding that harming the Jewish community is “crossing a red line.” Danon emphasized confidence in the U.S. authorities to take strong action.
The Metropolitan Police Department reported finding two victims—one male and one female—unresponsive and not breathing due to gunshot wounds. Both victims were officially pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities announced a lookout for the suspect, last seen fleeing eastbound on F Street NW. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation, characterizing the shooting as an apparent hate-fueled act targeting Jews in the capital. Multiple law enforcement and local officials, including MPD Chief Smith and Mayor Muriel Bowser, were present at the active investigation site.
The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, is a 30-year-old from Chicago, IL, and is now in custody.
A spokesperson at the Israeli embassy in Washington, Tal Naim Cohen, said in a statement, “Two staff members of the Israeli embassy were shot this evening at close range while attending a Jewish event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC. 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 throughout the United States”.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X: We condemn in the strongest possible terms the murder of two staff members from the Embassy of Israel in Washington, DC. Our prayers are with their loved ones.
This was a brazen act of cowardly, antisemitic violence. Make no mistake: we will track down those responsible and bring them to justice.
Chabad community activist Rabbi Chanina Sperlin, remarked, “Globalize the Intifada’ isn’t a call for justice — it’s a call for violence. Let’s be honest about what that slogan means: glorifying terror and targeting Jews worldwide.”
Chabad spokesperson Motti Seligson, upon hearing the news, simply urged all to “Pray.”
VIDEO:
It is important to be aware of the fact that, although he died “al kiddush Hashem”, as a martyr — the young man was the son of a Jewish father and a non-Jewish mother, and apparently never underwent a giyur. This information was brought to light in a New York Times article that appears today, under the category “The Victims”.
Why is that important
If he was alive and the other was Jewish then a Jew in Brooklyn would not be able to sleep it would be against halacha
It’s probably not called al Kiddush Hashem for goyim necessarily or hyd because that avadecha for hidden I think but someone was murdered and it’s still allowed to be sad
So why does it matter now that he’s a goy