Two employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot and killed on Wednesday night near the Jewish Museum in the U.S. capital. The incident was condemned by authorities from both countries and ended with the arrest of a single suspect.
The two people who lost their lives were identified as Yaron Lischinski, who worked in the Political Department of the Israeli Embassy, and his partner Sarah Milgrim.
According to the New York Times, Lischinski, 30, grew up in Israel and Germany, while Milgrim was an American citizen from Kansas.
How did the attack in Washington happen?
“Two members of the staff of the Israeli Embassy have been senselessly murdered tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington. We are actively investigating and working to obtain more information,” announced United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on her social media account.
The Israeli ambassador to the United States, Yehiel Leiter, confirmed in a press conference that the two deceased victims were a couple and stated that they were “about to get engaged”. “The young man bought a ring this week with the intention of proposing to her next week in Jerusalem,” Leiter recounted.
The Metropolitan Police Department representative Pamela Smith said in a press conference that the suspect, identified as Elias Rodríguez, 30 years old from Chicago, is in custody, and ruled out the involvement of any other individuals in the shooting.
According to Smith, the man “approached a group of four people, pulled out a gun and opened fire, injuring two people... After the shooting, the suspect entered the museum and was detained by event security,” before noting that “he identified the place where he got rid of the weapon and shouted ‘Free Palestine’ while in custody.”
The attack took place after 9 pm local time on Wednesday outside an event held at the Capital Jewish Museum.
Reactions of Donald Trump and in Israel
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, reacted to the shooting by stating that "these horrible murders obviously based on antisemitism, must end now. “Hatred and radicalism have no place in the United States. Condolences to the families of the victims,” he said in a message on the Truth Social platform.
The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, strongly condemned what he considered a “blatant act of cowardly and antisemitic violence.” “Make no mistake: we will find those responsible and bring them to justice,” he assured on his X account.
The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, stated he is “devastated” by what he has described in a statement sent to the media as “a despicable act of hatred and antisemitism,” after which he conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased victims and wished for the recovery of the injured.
Herzog also expressed his “full support” to all members of the Embassy of Israel in Washington and his “solidarity with the Jewish community” in the United States. “The United States and Israel will remain united in defense of our people and our shared values. Terrorism and hatred will not break us,” he assured.