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2025 Capital Jewish Museum shooting

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2025 killing of Israeli Embassy workers
Police tape cordons off the museum following the shooting
Locationoutside the Lillian & Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum, Washington, D.C., U.S.
DateMay 21, 2025; 57 days ago (May 21, 2025)
9:08 p.m. (EDT)
WeaponHandgun[1]
Deaths2

On May 21, 2025, a shooting occurred near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. A gunman opened fire outside the museum during a "Young Diplomats Reception" hosted by the American Jewish Committee, killing two Embassy of Israel staff members who were leaving the event.[2]

The victims, a young couple—Yaron Lischinsky, a German-Israeli[3], and Sarah Milgrim, an American Jew[4]—had attended the event aimed at fostering unity among Jewish young professionals and the diplomatic community.[2]

The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old man from Chicago, was apprehended by event security staff and reportedly chanted "Free, free Palestine!" while in custody.[5][6] A witness reported Rodriguez pulled out a keffiyeh and said "I did it. I did it for Gaza. Free free Palestine".[7]

Authorities condemned the attack and the FBI and local police launched a joint investigation.[2] The museum had recently raised security concerns amid a broader climate of rising antisemitism affecting Jewish institutions in the United States.[2]

Background

See also: Antisemitism in the United States and Israel–United States relations

The Capital Jewish Museum, housed within Adas Israel Congregation—one of Washington, D.C.'s oldest synagogues dedicated in 1876—is a Jewish cultural institution that opened approximately two years before the attack.[8][9] It is situated in the city's center, less than a mile from Capitol Hill and about 1.3 miles (2 km) from the White House.[10]

Historically, Israeli diplomats and embassy staff have been targeted by violence linked to the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict by both Palestinian militants and state-backed actors.[8] The Embassy of Israel, Washington, D.C. has been the site of several protests since the Gaza war began.[11]

Shortly before the incident, the museum received a grant intended to enhance security for local non-profit organizations.[8][9] Museum leaders expressed concerns about safety due to the museum's Jewish identity as well as a new LGBTQ exhibit.[8]

Shooting

The exterior of the Capital Jewish Museum during daytime
The Capital Jewish Museum in 2024

According to Metropolitan Police Department chief Pamela Smith, the suspect arrested at the scene of the shooting had been pacing outside the Lillian & Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum before the killing.[12] The museum was the site of a conference hosted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) for young professionals called "AJC ACCESS Young Diplomats Reception."[11][12] According to the invitation, the gathering aimed to bring together "Jewish young professionals and the D.C. diplomatic community for an evening dedicated to fostering unity and celebrating Jewish heritage."[2] The AJC described the event as a cocktail reception for professionals and diplomats focused on humanitarian diplomacy throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.[13][14] JoJo Kalin, an AJC board member who organized the event, stated that it was centered on building a coalition to support Gazans amid the ongoing war.[15][16]

At approximately 9:08 p.m. on May 21, 2025,[5] the suspect opened fire with a handgun on four individuals, two of whom—Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim,[4] a couple and Israeli embassy aides—were fatally shot as they were leaving the museum.[11][12] Israeli government officials said that other embassy employees were injured in the shooting.[17][18]

According to Smith, after the shooting, the suspect walked into the museum and was stopped by security staff before being detained.[11][12] Eyewitnesses in the museum said that the suspect looked distressed and had initially been helped and given water[6][19] before he identified himself as the shooter, and asked for police. He was taken into custody.[20]

Victims

The two victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were a couple. Lischinsky was a German-Israeli staff member at the Israeli Embassy, working as a research assistant with responsibilities that included monitoring developments in the Middle East.[21] Milgrim was an American Jew working in the public diplomacy department, responsible for community relations. The couple likely met through their embassy assignments.[21] Lischinsky moved from Nuremberg in Bavaria, Germany, to Israel at the age of 16 before relocating to Washington to work for the embassy.[22] According to Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, the couple was planning to become engaged in Jerusalem the following week.[12]

Suspect

"Elias Rodriguez" redirects here. For the Peruvian politician, see Elías Rodríguez. For the athlete, see Elias Rodriguez (athlete).

Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old Chicago man, was arrested as the suspect after being apprehended by event security staff. He pulled out a red keffiyeh and chanted "Free, free Palestine!" as he was taken into custody.[5][6] Initial reports state that Rodriguez had no prior contact with police.[23][24]

Rodriguez was briefly (in 2017) associated with the left-wing political party Party for Socialism and Liberation[25] though the Party itself wrote that he was not a member.[26]

Manifesto

Journalist Ken Klippenstein published Rodriguez's alleged manifesto in which he cites the Gaza genocide as the reason for his actions:

A word about the morality of armed demonstration. Those of us against the genocide take satisfaction in arguing that the perpetrators and abettors have forfeited their humanity. I sympathize with this viewpoint and understand its value in soothing the psyche which cannot bear to accept the atrocities it witnesses, even mediated through the screen. But inhumanity has long since shown itself to be shockingly common, mundane, prosaically human. A perpetrator may then be a loving parent, a filial child, a generous and charitable friend, an amiable stranger, capable of moral strength at times when it suits him and sometimes even when it does not, and yet be a monster all the same. Humanity doesn't exempt one from accountability. The action would have been morally justified taken 11 years ago during Protective Edge, around the time I personally became acutely aware of our brutal conduct in Palestine. But I think to most Americans such an action would have been illegible, would seem insane. I am glad that today at least there are many Americans for which the action will be highly legible and, in some funny way, the only sane thing to do.[27]

Investigation

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and D.C. police are investigating the killing.[28][29] According to The Washington Post, authorities initially believed the suspect had specifically targeted the event at the museum, but had not singled out any single individual before arriving at the scene.[28]

Responses

Domestic

The organizer of the event called the suspect evil and said he looked distraught.[30]

U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the acts via a post on Truth Social shortly after the shooting, stating: "These horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!". He added that "Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA."[11][8]

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem[28] and United States Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed to prosecute the suspect.[31]

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer denounced the killings, as did Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.[11] Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Mike Johnson also condemned the shooting, calling it a "horrific attack, obviously an antisemitic attack".[32]

International

Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon called the killings "anti-Semitic terrorism."[11] In a post on Twitter, Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote that Israel and the U.S. "will stand united in defense of our people and our shared values. Terror and hate will not break us."[24][33] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack.[34] He said that he ordered strengthened security at Israeli embassies worldwide.[35] Other nations and groups to condemn the killings included the European Union,[36] France,[37] Germany,[38] India,[39] Italy,[40] the UAE,[41] and the United Kingdom.[42]

See also

References

  1. ^ "What we know about Israeli embassy staff shooting". BBC News. May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Two Israeli Embassy Staffers Killed in Shooting Near Jewish Museum in Washington". The Wall Street Journal. May 21, 2025.
  3. ^ "Israeli museum victim 'was planning to propose'". BBC News. May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Bachner, Michael. "Victims of DC shooting are Israeli Embassy workers Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim". Times of Israel. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Frazier, Kierra; Milton, Pat; Triay, Andres; Tanyos, Faris (May 22, 2025). "2 Israeli Embassy staff shot and killed outside Jewish Museum in D.C." CBS News.
  6. ^ a b c "2 staff members of Israeli embassy killed in shooting near Jewish museum in DC; suspect from Chicago". Chicago Sun-Times. Associated Press. May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  7. ^ "Suspect said 'I did it. I did it for Gaza,' witness recalls". NBC News. May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e "2 staff members of Israeli embassy killed in shooting near Jewish museum in DC". AP News. May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  9. ^ a b Segraves, Mark; Reporter • •, News4 (May 20, 2025). "Capital Jewish Museum receives DC security grant amid concerns about LGBTQ exhibit". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved May 22, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Washington DC shooting live updates: Two Israeli embassy staff killed and suspect in custody". BBC News. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Haberman, Maggie; Thrush, Glenn; Cameron, Chris (May 21, 2025). "Two Israeli Embassy Staffers Shot and Killed Outside Event in Washington, Officials Say". The New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d e Gurman, Sadie; McGraw, Meridith; Beavers, Olivia (May 21, 2025). "Two Israeli Embassy Staffers Killed in Shooting Near Jewish Museum in Washington". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  13. ^ Sales, Ben (May 22, 2025). "2 Israeli embassy staffers shot to death outside DC Jewish museum event". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  14. ^ "AJC ACCESS Young Diplomats Reception". Eventbrite. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  15. ^ "Washington DC shooting: Two Israeli embassy staff killed in attack near Jewish museum". BBC News. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  16. ^ Zemler, Emily (May 22, 2025). "Two Israeli Embassy Staffers Shot and Killed Outside Jewish Museum in D.C." Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  17. ^ Hamblin, Andrea; Confino, Jotam (May 22, 2025). "Starmer blamed for 'emboldening' anti-Semitic attackers". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  18. ^ Gedeon, Joseph; Tondo, Lorenzo (May 22, 2025). "Two Israeli embassy staff shot dead near Washington DC Jewish museum". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  19. ^ "Two Israeli embassy staff killed by man chanting 'free Palestine' - police". BBC News. May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  20. ^ Keene, Louis (May 22, 2025). "2 killed in Capital Jewish Museum shooting by suspect who shouted 'Free Palestine,' police say". The Forward. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  21. ^ a b אייכנר, איתמר (May 22, 2025). "דיפלומטים ישראלים ב"הלם מוחלט", זעזוע בעולם: "פשע אנטישמי מחריד"". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  22. ^ "Shooting victim Yaron Lischinsky had a German passport". NBC News. May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  23. ^ Ward, Jasper; Ward, Jasper (May 22, 2025). "Two Israeli embassy staffers killed in Washington shooting, suspect held". Reuters. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  24. ^ a b Blackburn, Alex Marquardt, Gabe Cohen, Holmes Lybrand, Kaanita Iyer, Piper Hudspeth (May 22, 2025). "Two Israeli Embassy staff members killed outside Jewish museum in Washington, DC". CNN. Retrieved May 22, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ "DC shooting suspect Elias Rodriguez was member of far-left group". Times of Israel. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  26. ^ "Elias Rodriguez: Socialist party denies links to D.C. shooting suspect". The Independent. May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  27. ^ Klippenstein, Ken (May 21, 2025). "The Israel Embassy Shooter Manifesto". Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  28. ^ a b c Jeong, Andrew (May 22, 2025). "Two Israeli Embassy staff killed near Capital Jewish Museum in D.C." The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  29. ^ Miller, Myles; Harney, John (May 21, 2025). "Two Israeli Embassy Staffers Killed in Washington Shooting". Bloomberg News. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  30. ^ "Museum event organizer says 'I was actually looking evil in the eye'". NBC News. May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  31. ^ Jeyaretnam, Miranda (May 22, 2025). "Breaking: Israeli Embassy Staff Killed in D.C. Shooting". Time. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  32. ^ "House Speaker Mike Johnson condemns attack as 'horrific'". NBC News. May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  33. ^ "2 Israeli embassy staffers killed near D.C. Jewish museum; suspect in custody". WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm. May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  34. ^ "Israeli leader Netanyahu's office says he is 'shocked' by the DC shooting of embassy staffers". NBC4 Washington. May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  35. ^ Falconer, Rebecca; Ravid, Barak (May 22, 2025). "2 Israeli Embassy staff killed in shooting near Capital Jewish Museum in D.C., officials say". Axios. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  36. ^ "EU top diplomat 'shocked' by Washington Jewish museum shooting". Times of Israel.
  37. ^ "France Condemns 'Abhorrent Act Of Anti-Semitic Barbarity' In Washington". Barron's. AFP. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  38. ^ Presse, AFP-Agence France. "Germany's Merz 'Strongly Condemns' 'Despicable' Washington Shooting". barrons. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  39. ^ "Jaishankar Condemns Killing Of Israeli Diplomats In Washington, Expresses Solidarity With Israel". DD News. May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  40. ^ "Italy Condemns 'Scenes Of Terror And Violence' In Washington". Barron's. AFP. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  41. ^ "UAE 'strongly condemns' shooting of Israeli embassy staff in Washington". Times of Israel. May 22, 2025.
  42. ^ "Lammy condemns 'appalling' killing of Israeli embassy staff in Washington". The Weekly Standard.
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