(RNS) — Two Israeli embassy staffers were killed in a shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., where an American Jewish Committee event was held on Wednesday evening (May 21).
The victims were identified as Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, according to The New York Times.
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said an early investigation determined that the victims were exiting the museum at the time of the shooting. Smith said the suspect, whom she identified as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, entered the museum and was detained by security for the event. He chanted, “Free, Free Palestine,” in police custody, Smith said.
“Prior to the shooting, the suspect was observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum,” she said at a news conference. “He approached a group of four people, produced a handgun and opened fire, striking both of our decedents.”
Eyewitnesses said the suspect said he “did it for Gaza,” according to CNN.
“Two Israeli Embassy staff were senselessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share. Please pray for the families of the victims. We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice.”
This image, shared by the Embassy of Israel to the USA, shows Sarah Lynn Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky. (Photo courtesy Embassy of Israel to the USA)
At the news conference, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the shooting occurred shortly after 9 p.m.
“We will not tolerate any acts of terrorism, and we’re going to stand together as a community in the coming days and weeks to send a clear message that we will not tolerate antisemitism,” she said.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel (Michael) Leiter said the victims were a couple that planned to soon become engaged to be married.
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“The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem,” Leiter said at the news conference. “They were a beautiful couple who came to enjoy an evening in Washington’s cultural center.”
The American Jewish Committee issued a statement on X about the killings, which followed its annual Young Diplomats reception.
“We are devastated that two cherished friends and partners from the Israeli embassy were shot and killed as they left an American Jewish Committee (AJC) event at the Capital Jewish Museum earlier this evening,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. “This is a shocking act of violence and our community is holding each other tighter tonight.”
Steven Jensen, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, said at the news conference the FBI would join other authorities to investigate the “heinous crime” and will “look into ties to potential terrorism or motivation based on a bias-based crime or a hate crime.”
Bowser said the city of Washington has long worked with Jewish organizations about their protection and safety.
“We’ll be talking to all of our organizations, from schools to synagogues to other organizations, to make sure we are supporting in every way that we can,” she said, adding that security grants have long been offered to religious groups.
“There have been a lot of faith organizations that have applied for special security grants, and so we continue to do that in the city,” Bowser said. “We’ve been able to deploy millions of dollars so organizations can have increased security.”
President Trump joined members of his cabinet in condemning the killings.
“These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!” his White House X account said. “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! God Bless You ALL!”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said on X: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms the murder of two staff members from the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. 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.”
In a statement on X, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described the incident as a “Horrific act of terror that the people of Israel are waking up to this morning.”
Open since 2023, the Capital Jewish Museum is one of D.C.’s newest museums, housed in the oldest synagogue building in the nation’s capital. When it opened, artifacts on display included a matchbox signed by former President Jimmy Carter that was used at the first lighting of the national menorah in 1977; a notebook with handwritten words of Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish Supreme Court justice; and the Seder plate used by former President Barack Obama’s family at the White House.
As the museum opened, Ivy L. Barsky, then the museum’s executive director, said the goal was for the site to serve as a bridge to both the religious and secular aspects of Judaism, for the devout and non-devout alike.
“We know that a lot of people and a lot of Jews and a lot of young Jewish folks in Washington and elsewhere really connect to their history and heritage in places like ours,” she told Religion News Service at the time. “We’re not about prayer, but I think people get really curious and get answers about Jewishness, to a certain extent Judaism, and museums tend to be really unthreatening, safe places to get that information.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
