Two staff members from the Israeli embassy in Washington were shot and killed on Wednesday near the Jewish Museum. The shooter, Elias Rodriguez, from Chicago, opened fire on a group of four people.Israeli ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, said the victims were a young couple who were about to get engaged.The man had bought a ring earlier this week and planned to propose in Jerusalem next week.
Who is Elias Rodriguez?
Elias Rodriguez, 30, is a resident of Chicago with no immediate known ties to Washington, DC. Prior to opening fire, he was seen pacing outside the Jewish Museum, suggesting a possible premeditated attack.Following the shooting, Rodriguez entered the museum but was quickly taken into custody by police. Authorities reported that he was chanting “Free, free Palestine” at the time of his arrest.It remains unclear if Rodriguez has any formal legal representation. Public records show a phone number associated with him, but calls went unanswered.Authorities are still investigating his background, possible affiliations, and whether the attack was driven by antisemitic or political motives.Metropolitan Police chief Pamela Smith said law enforcement did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the community.In a post on Truth Social, US President Trump said that the incident was based on ‘antisemitism‘. “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!”Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, condemned the incident and termed it as “crossing the red line”. In a post on X, he said, “harming the Jewish community is crossing a red line. We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act. Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives – everywhere in the world.“
