Egypt Daily News – Two Israeli embassy staff members, a young couple reportedly planning to get engaged, were fatally shot by a lone gunman in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, according to officials. A suspect is in custody and is reported to have shouted pro-Palestinian slogans during his arrest.
The victims, identified by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum near 3rd and F Streets NW, approximately 1.3 miles from the White House, as they were leaving a diplomatic event.
Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said the assailant approached a group of four people and opened fire with a handgun, striking both victims. She noted that the suspect had been observed pacing outside the museum before the shooting.
Afterward, he reportedly entered the museum and was detained by security personnel. Once handcuffed, he directed authorities to where he had discarded the firearm, which was later recovered.
The suspect has been identified as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago. Police say he has no prior record and described the incident as an apparent act of targeted violence. During his arrest, Rodriguez allegedly chanted “Free Palestine,” according to Smith.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter told reporters that Lischinsky had planned to propose to Milgrim during a trip to Jerusalem next week. “He had just bought the ring,” the ambassador said.
The attack drew swift condemnation from leaders in both countries. Former President Donald Trump called the incident “horrible” and described it as “obviously based on antisemitism,” adding, “Hatred and radicalism have no place in the USA.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement mourning the loss and calling the attack an example of rising antisemitism. “We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and incitement against the State of Israel,” Netanyahu said. “It must be confronted with determination.”
The shooting may carry political implications, potentially reinforcing positions held by Netanyahu’s government amid ongoing pressure from international allies regarding humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
The incident also echoes a historical parallel: in 1982, the attempted assassination of Israeli Ambassador Shlomo Argov in London by a Palestinian militant group triggered Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon.
In the U.S., the attack is likely to intensify an already polarized national conversation surrounding the conflict in Gaza. Trump and his allies have criticized pro-Palestinian demonstrations, labeling them antisemitic. His administration has taken steps to restrict such protests on university campuses and has detained foreign student demonstrators.
U.S. and Israeli officials continued to speak out in the aftermath. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem condemned the attack, with Noem promising that the suspect would be brought to justice.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro visited the scene late Wednesday, while Deputy FBI Director Don Bongino confirmed the FBI is actively investigating. “Early indicators suggest this was a targeted attack,” Bongino said, adding that investigators are working to confirm motives without compromising leads.
The victims had been attending a reception hosted by the American Jewish Committee at the Capital Jewish Museum. The event, titled the “Young Diplomats Reception,” aimed to connect young Jewish professionals and members of Washington’s diplomatic community.
In the hours following the shooting, mourners gathered at the site. One individual knelt at the intersection, draped in an Israeli flag. Aaron Shemtov, a rabbinical student from California, said he came to the scene to show solidarity. “When a member of our community is killed for who they are, we stand proud and strong,” he said.
Rabbi Levi Shemtov, who leads the American Friends of Lubavitch and knew the couple through his synagogue, said the tragedy struck deeply. “They were about to begin a new chapter in their lives,” he said. “Instead, they were murdered in the street—simply for being who they were.”
