A late-night shooting in the heart of the U.S. capital has left two Israeli embassy staff members dead, sending shockwaves through both diplomatic and local communities. The victims, a young couple reportedly preparing to get engaged, were gunned down outside the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday evening.
The tragic incident occurred just over a mile from the White House and has since been confirmed as a targeted attack.
Couple Shot Outside Jewish Museum
Washington Metropolitan Police say the victims – Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim – were part of a group leaving a diplomatic event hosted by the American Jewish Committee. As they exited the museum, a lone gunman opened fire.
Police Chief Pamela Smith revealed that the attacker had been seen pacing outside before the shooting. “A man shot at a group of four with a handgun, hitting both the victims,” she said.
The suspect was quickly apprehended by event security after shouting, “Free Palestine, Free Palestine.”
Two Israeli Embassy staff were shot dead by terrorist outside Jewish museum in Washington DC. He was shouting “Free Palestine”.
Reminder: Indians who say ‘Free Palestine’ are potential terrorists. pic.twitter.com/whJTdC5gtD
— BALA (@erbmjha) May 22, 2025
The shooter has been identified as Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old man from Chicago. He had no prior police record. Upon arrest, Rodriguez reportedly guided officers to the discarded weapon and acknowledged his role in the attack.
Authorities, including the FBI, believe this was a deliberate act of violence.
“Early indicators are that this is an act of targeted violence. Our team is fully engaged in the investigation,” said Deputy FBI Director Don Bongino.
Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, confirmed that Lischinsky had recently bought an engagement ring. “He planned to propose next week in Jerusalem,” the ambassador told reporters.
The couple were local hires at the Israeli Embassy in Washington and occasionally attended a synagogue led by Rabbi Levi Shemtov.
“Instead of celebrating a new chapter of their life, they were gunned down in the street,” said Shemtov.
The attack has sparked outrage. Former U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also issued a strong statement: “My heart aches for the families… We are witness to the terrible cost of antisemitism and wild incitement against the State of Israel.” He also confirmed increased security measures at Israeli embassies worldwide.
The shooting comes at a tense moment, as pro-Palestinian protests and pro-Israel sentiments continue to divide U.S. campuses and public squares. Wednesday’s incident is expected to further strain these dynamics.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the attack “a direct result of toxic antisemitic incitement” since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, which sparked the ongoing Gaza conflict.
The German-Israeli Society paid tribute to Lischinsky, who had grown up in Bavaria and was known for his fluency in German and deep commitment to peace in the Middle East.
“We remember him as an open-minded, intelligent and deeply committed person,” said Volker Beck, the society’s president.
At the scene, mourners gathered to light candles, pray, and display Israeli flags. One person knelt at the street corner, draped in a modified Israeli flag.
Aaron Shemtov, a rabbinical student from California, travelled to the site to show solidarity. “When a member of the community gets murdered and gets killed for who he is, we stand proud, we stand strong, and we never give up,” he said.
A Worrying Pattern
This incident joins a growing list of hate-related crimes in the U.S., ranging from antisemitic attacks on Jewish centres to violent assaults against Arabs and Muslims. Rights advocates continue to warn of rising hatred on both sides of the divide.
The investigation remains ongoing, but one message rings clear from the tragedy in Washington: hate-fuelled violence has no borders – and its toll is devastating.
