TWO staff members of the Israeli embassy were shot and killed on Wednesday evening while leaving an event at a Jewish museum in Washington DC.
The suspect yelled “free, free Palestine” after he was arrested, police said.
The two victims, a man and a woman, were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when the 30-year-old suspect approached a group of four people and opened fire, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said at a news conference.
They were later named as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim (shown below).
“When he was taken into custody, the man began chanting, 'free, free Palestine',” Smith said.
Smith said law enforcement did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the community.
The attack came on the same evening that Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to illegally seize control of all of Gaza, a region his government already illegally occupies.
In the West Bank, Israeli troops opened fire near a group of delegates including from countries such as Ireland and Belgium. European leaders have demanded an explanation for the incident.
Israeli ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter said the two people killed were a young couple about to be engaged, saying the man had purchased a ring this week with the intent to propose next week in Jerusalem.
US president Donald Trump posted on social media: “These horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!
“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!”
“We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and wild incitement against Israel,” he said in a statement.
Netanyahu said he had instructed Israeli missions around the world to beef up security.
Israeli president Isaac Herzog said he was “devastated” by the scenes in Washington.
He said: “This is a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism, which has claimed the lives of two young employees of the Israeli embassy. Our hearts are with the loved ones of those murdered, and our immediate prayers are with the injured. I send my full support to the Ambassador and all the embassy staff.”
It was not immediately clear whether Rodriguez had an attorney who could comment on his behalf. A telephone number listed in public records rang unanswered, AP reported.
The shooting comes as Israel has launched a new campaign targeting Hamas in the Gaza Strip in a war that has set tensions aflame across the wider Middle East.
Israel's renewed assault on Gaza ramped up after the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023 killed 1200 people and saw some 250 hostages taken.
Since then, Israel has reportedly killed more than 61,000 people inside Gaza, pushed the region to the brink of famine by illegally blocking international aid, and announced plans to ethnically cleanse the Palestinian area it already illegally occupies.
Yoni Kalin and Katie Kalisher were inside the museum when they heard gunshots and a man came inside looking distressed, they said.
Kalin said people came to his aid and brought him water, thinking he needed help, without realising he was the suspect.
When police arrived, he pulled out a red keffiyeh and repeatedly yelled, “free Palestine,’” Kalin said.
“This event was about humanitarian aid,” Kalin said.
“How can we actually help both the people in Gaza and the people in Israel? How can we bring together Muslims and Jews and Christians to work together to actually help innocent people? And then here he is just murdering two people in cold blood.”
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington said in a statement that they are horrified by the shooting and “mourn the loss of the two individuals killed in the attack”.
“Our hearts are with their families and loved ones, and with all of those who are impacted by this tragic act of antisemitic violence,” the federation said.
Last week, the Capital Jewish Museum was one of the local non-profits in Washington awarded funding from a 500,000 dollar (£372,350) grant programme to increase its security.
The museum’s leaders were concerned because it is a Jewish organisation and due to its new LGBT+ exhibit, according to NBC4 Washington.
“We recognise that there are threats associated with this as well,” executive director Beatrice Gurwitz told the TV station.
“And again, we want to ensure that our space is as welcoming and secure for everybody who comes here while we are exploring these stories.”
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington chief executive Gil Preuss said in a statement that he was horrified by the shooting and mourned the loss of the two people killed.
“Our hearts are with their families and loved ones, and with all of those who are impacted by this tragic act of antisemitic violence,” he said.
