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Two Israeli embassy staff members were fatally shot by a man who shouted "free Palestine" outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., Wednesday (May 21) night, officials confirmed via NBC News.
Elias Rodriguez, of Chicago, reported to be in his early 30s, "implied" that he committed the shooting and was seen shouting, "Free, free Palestine" while being detained in a video shared online, however, no charges have been filed as of Thursday (May 22) morning. The suspect told police where he discarded the weapon, according to Washington Police Chief Pamela Smith via NBC News.
The victims were identified by the Israeli embassy as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, a couple that was about to get engaged and on a night out at the time of their deaths. The incident took place at around 9:00 p.m. local time as Lischinsky and Milgrim were leaving the museum, where the American Jewish Committee was confirmed to have hosted a gathering.
The suspect had paced back and forth outside the museum when he approached a group consisting of the two victims and two other individuals and opened fire using a handgun before attempting to enter the building, at which point he was detained by security, according to Smith. Tal Naim Cohen, a spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, claimed the two victims “were shot this evening at close range while attending a Jewish event," while Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, referred to the incident as a "depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that he directed security increases for the global Israeli missions and representatives following the incident.
“My heart grieves for the families of the young beloveds, whose lives were cut short in a moment by an abhorrent antisemitic murderer," Netanyahu said via NBC News.