An attacker shot and killed two employees of the Israeli Embassy in the United States near the Jewish Museum in downtown Washington. The perpetrator was arrested almost immediately, informs CBS News.
The incident happened in the evening of May 21. The victims were a man and a woman — employees of the Israeli embassy in the United States. The attacker was Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old resident of Chicago. The Jewish Museum is located in the center of Washington. The FBI office is nearby, and the White House is less than two kilometers away.
According to the police, he walked for some time in front of the entrance to the museum, after which he approached a group of four people who were leaving the building, pulled out a gun and opened fire. Then the attacker went inside the museum, where he was neutralized by security. When emergency services arrived at the scene, the victims were already unconscious and not breathing. It was not possible to save them.
The law enforcement officers reported that the man was already in custody shouting the slogan about “free Palestine”. Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yehiel Leiter, said that the dead were a couple and planned to get engaged next week in Jerusalem. He also noted that after the shooting, he had a conversation with US President Donald Trump.
Attorney General Pam Bondi arrived at the scene of the tragedy and said she also discussed the situation with Trump.
“On behalf of the president, I convey that his prayers are with all of us and the entire Jewish community,” she said.
