BREAKING: Two Israeli Embassy staffers gunned down outside D.C.’s Capital Jewish Museum

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From the Associated Press: Two staff members of the Israeli embassy in Washington were shot and killed Wednesday evening while leaving an event at a Jewish museum, and the suspect yelled, “Free, free Palestine” after he was arrested, police said.

The two victims, a man and a woman, were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when the suspect approached a group of four people and opened fire, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said at a news conference.

The suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, was observed pacing outside the museum before the shooting, walked into the museum after the shooting and was detained by event security, Smith said.

When he was taken into custody, the suspect began chanting, “Free, free Palestine,” Smith said. Smith said law enforcement did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the community.

According to Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter, the two victims killed were a young couple about to be engaged. The man had reportedly just purchased a ring this week and was intending to propose to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem.

According to the Jewish Insider, after the shooting, Elias Rodriguez entered the building and appeared panicked.  Bystanders offered him water, not realizing he was the suspect.

After a few minutes, Rodriquez then started screaming, “I did it, I did it! Free Palestine! I did it for Gaza,” and opened a backpack, pulling out a red Keffiyeh.

Below is the moment Rodriguez was arrested and started shouting, “Free, free Palestine!” as officers marched him out.

At 1:18 a.m. Thursday, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino announced, “The subject is currently being interviewed by DC Metro in conjunction with our FBI JTTF team. The US Attorney’s office is on scene with me, and our WFO management team, at the Washington Field Office reviewing the evidence to determine additional actions.”

“The shooting happened a short distance from our Washington Field Office. Our FBI police officers, assigned to posts on the WFO property, immediately responded and rendered aid after the attack. Early indicators are that this is an act of targeted violence. Our FBI team is fully engaged and we will get you answers as soon as we can, without compromising additional leads,” Bongino added.

Internet sleuths have already found disturbing details about a man named Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, who is believed to be the same man arrested in the shooting. He appears to be a far-left activist with the “Party for Socialism and Liberation” in Chicago.

Radio host Ari Hoffman shared the following in a series of posts on X:

NEW: Elias Rodriguez, the 30 year old suspect in the shooting tonight in DC of 2 staff members of the Israeli Embassy is allegedly an active member of the Party for Socialism & Liberation who marched with BLM, the People’s Congress of Resistance & ANSWER Chicago.

PSL this morning tweeted an “anti genocide pledge” against Israel and has previously targeted Amazon.

Elias Rodriguez made one political donation to Joe Biden in 2020.

Rodriguez told Liberation Magazine: “The wealth that Amazon has brought to Seattle has not been shared with its Black residents. [Amazon’s] whitening of Seattle is structurally racist and a direct danger to all workers who live in that city. So do we in Chicago and all across the country want a nation of cities dominated and occupied by massive corporations where only the rich and white can live and the vast majority of us must live on edges of the city and society living in deeper and deeper poverty? I don’t think so.”

President Donald Trump condemned the shooting, writing on Truth Social Wednesday night, “These horrible D.C. 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!”

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Wednesday night, “I am on the scene of the horrible shooting outside the Washington, DC Capital Jewish Museum with @USAttyPirro. Praying for the victims of this violence as we work to learn more.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote, “We condemn in the strongest possible terms the murder of two staff members from the Embassy of Israel in Washington, DC. Our prayers are with their loved ones. This was a brazen act of cowardly, antisemitic violence. Make no mistake: we will track down those responsible and bring them to justice.”

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrote, “Two Israeli Embassy staff were senselessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC. We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share. Please pray for the families of the victims. We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice.”

The Capital Jewish Museum wrote, “We are deeply saddened and horrified by the senseless violence outside the Museum this evening. Our condolences and heartfelt sympathies go to the victims and their families.”

READ MORE from the Associated Press.

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