The suspect shouted 'Free Palestine' while being arrested, law enforcement sources said.
By Jackie Bensen, News4 Reporter and Matthew Stabley
NBC Universal, Inc.
A man and woman were shot and killed in front of the Capital Jewish Museum in Northwest D.C. Wednesday evening. The victims were Israeli Embassy staffers, sources said. Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said they were a young couple about to get engaged. He had just purchased a ring and intended to propose next week in Jerusalem. The suspect shouted "Free, free Palestine" while being arrested, three law enforcement officials said. The suspect was identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, Illinois. Authorities believe he is the only suspect.
“We’re going to overcome moral depravity of people who think they’re going to achieve political gains through murder,” Leiter said.
The shooting took place before 9:10 p.m. in the area of 3rd and F streets in Northwest — an area surrounded by law enforcement. It's behind the FBI field office and the U.S. attorney's office. D.C. police headquarters is just a couple blocks away.
The couple were leaving an event at the museum when a man who had been seen pacing in front of the museum approached a group of four people and opened fire, striking the victims, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said.
First responders found the victims unconscious at the scene. Life-saving efforts did not save them.
The suspect then entered the building and was taken into custody by event staff, police said. He told them where he had put the gun and implied he was the shooter.
The suspect was identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, Illinois. Authorities believe he is the only suspect.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon posted on the social media platform X that Israeli embassy employees were injured in the fatal shooting. He called it “a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism.”
News4 has not confirmed any additional victims other than the deceased man and woman.
American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch confirmed they hosted an event at the museum Wednesday evening.
“We are devastated that an unspeakable act of violence took place outside the venue,” he said in a statement. “At this moment, as we await more information from the police about exactly what transpired, our attention and our hearts are solely with those who were harmed and their families.”
While Ambassador Leiter was on his way to the scene, he said he received a call from President Donald Trump, who told him his administration will do everything it can to fight anti-Semitism.
"We will confront this moral depravity without fear,” Leiter said.
"These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA," Trump posted on Truth Social.
“The horrific incident is going to frighten a lot of people in our city and our country,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said.
She said D.C. will not tolerate violence, hate or any acts of terrorism.
“We are going to send a message that we won’t tolerate anti-Semitism,” Bowser said.
The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is responding, sources familiar with the shooting told News4.
“My team and I have been briefed on the shooting tonight in downtown DC outside the Capital Jewish Museum and near our Washington Field Office," FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X. "While we’re working with MPD to respond and learn more, in the immediate, please pray for the victims and their families.”
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X that she went to the scene.
"Praying for the victims of this violence as we work to learn more," she wrote.
Capital Jewish Museum receives DC grant amid security concerns for LGBTQ exhibit
The D.C. government announced grants to help local nonprofits offset security costs. News4's Mark Segraves visited the Capital Jewish Museum, where new security concerns have arisen because of an LGBTQ+ exhibit.
Police asked people to avoid the area.
The D.C. government recently announced half a million dollars in grants for local nonprofits to help offset security costs. One recipient is the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum, which said it has serious concerns about security, not just because they are a Jewish organization, but also due to a new exhibit focused on the LGBTQ community.
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