Two Israeli Embassy staffers were shot and killed Wednesday night (May 21, 2025), outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. The alleged gunman, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, Illinois, is in custody. Authorities believe he acted alone.

The shooting occurred shortly after an American Jewish Committee event ended around 9 p.m. The suspect was observed pacing outside the museum before he approached a group of four people, pulled out a handgun, and opened fire, according to Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

“After the shooting, the suspect then entered the museum and was detained by event security. Once in handcuffs, the suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered, and he implied that he committed the offense. The suspect chanted, ‘Free, free Palestine,’ while in custody,” noted Chief Smith.

According to Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., the victims were a couple, and one had recently purchased a ring with plans to propose in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, several eyewitnesses have provided disturbing accounts of the suspect’s behavior before and after the shooting. Sara Marinuzzi, 28, who attended the event, told CNN that the suspect waited with attendees and pretended to be a bystander.

“There were some more shots, and then a guy came running into the center, and the security guards offered him water, trying to comfort him. He was kind of having erratic behavior. They figured he witnessed the shooting,” she said. “I did it, I did it for Gaza. Free Palestine!”

Another eyewitness, Jojo Kalin, who organized the event and is a board member of the American Jewish Committee, recounted her encounter with the suspect. Kalin did not witness the shooting but interacted with the man inside the building, noting that he appeared “very distraught” afterward.