On the evening of May 21, 2025, two Israeli embassy staff members were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., following an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee. The victims, a man and a woman, were targeted at close range around 9:10 p.m. near 3rd and F Streets NW, an area adjacent to federal buildings including the FBI’s Washington field office .
The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, was apprehended at the scene. Witnesses reported that after the shooting, Rodriguez entered the museum, donned a keffiyeh, and shouted “Free Palestine” . Upon arrest, he continued to chant similar slogans.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, condemned the attack as a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism,” emphasizing that harming diplomats and the Jewish community crosses a red line. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, revealed that the victims were a young couple planning to become engaged, with the man having purchased a ring earlier that week.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the deaths and stated that authorities are actively investigating the incident . Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro were present at the scene. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation, and officials have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat to safety.
