Officials say both victims of DC shooting were embassy staffers, were a couple about to get engaged

Tal Naim Cohen, a spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC, says two of its staff members were shot “at close range” while attending a Jewish event at the Capital Jewish Museum.

The Israeli embassy does not immediately respond to questions about the shooter, the victims or the motive for the attack, but other officials provide details and say the victims were a couple about to be engaged.

“The couple that was gunned down tonight in the name of ‘Free Palestine’ was a couple about to be engaged,” says Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, adding that the man had bought a ring last week with the intention of proposing next week in Jerusalem.

US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed two Israeli embassy staff members were killed.

“We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share,” Noem wrote in a post on X.

“We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice.”

Washington, DC, Police Chief Pamela Smith says that “despite all life-saving efforts, both victims succumbed to their injuries.”

She says both victims were exiting an event at the museum.

“Prior to the shooting, a suspect was observed pacing outside of the museum,” she says, adding that he opened fire at a group of four, killing a man and a woman.

“The suspect chanted, ‘Free, free Palestine,’ while in custody. The suspect has been identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, Illinois,”she says.

???????? — VIDEO: Alleged footage of the D.C. Jewish museum attacker Elias Rodrigues being arrested. pic.twitter.com/iRa9JtLLNr

— Belaaz News (@TheBelaaz) May 22, 2025

Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser says there’s no active threat.

She says US President Donald Trump, via a phone that Attorney General Pam Bondi handed him, said “his administration is going to do everything it can possibly do to fight antisemitism and the hatred, the demonization and delegitimization of the State of Israel.”