Highlights:
- Two Israeli Embassy staffers fatally shot near Jewish Museum in Washington DC
- The victims, a couple, were planning to get engaged in Jerusalem next week
- Suspect reportedly shouted pro-Palestinian slogans during arrest
- Authorities label the shooting an antisemitic terror attack
A tragic shooting in Washington DC has claimed the lives of two young Israeli Embassy employees who were planning to get engaged in the coming days. The victims, a man and a woman, were gunned down Wednesday evening near the Jewish Museum, just a short distance from the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, shared that the young man had purchased an engagement ring earlier this week, intending to propose to his girlfriend in Jerusalem next week. Describing the pair as “a beautiful couple,” the ambassador expressed heartbreak over their sudden and senseless deaths. Both victims were found unresponsive at the scene, and despite efforts from emergency responders, neither survived.
The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, was arrested shortly after the attack. According to authorities, Rodriguez was seen pacing outside the museum before approaching a group of people and opening fire. During his arrest, he allegedly shouted, “Free, free Palestine,” prompting officials to treat the incident as a hate-driven act of antisemitic terrorism.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation, including from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who called the killings “horrible” and demanded an end to antisemitic violence. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also vowed swift justice, stating that the government is actively investigating the case and standing by the victims’ families.
<p>The post Devastating Loss: 2 Israelis Killed in DC Shooting first appeared on toplivenews.com.</p>
