Israeli embassy employee at DC shootout killed: Knowing everything

TThe Israeli embassy staff were killed on Wednesday evening before an event by the American Jewish Committee in the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, almost a mile from the White House and the US capitol.

“We are destroyed that an unspeakable act of violence took place outside the event location,” said Ted Deutch, CEO of AJC in a statement. “At that moment when we expect further information from the police, our attention and hearts are exclusively with those that have been damaged and their families.”

Against the local time around midnight, about three hours after the shootout, the officers offered preliminary information about the attack, including details about the victims. the suspect who was imprisoned; and ongoing studies. There is no active threat, officials said.

So far we know the following.

Who were the victims?

The shootout, which took place in the area of ​​3rd and f Street NW, killed a man and a woman who have not yet been publicly identified. Others, including employees of the Israeli message, were injured.

Kristi Noem, secretary of the homeland protection authority, put on X that the two killed employees “Israeli embassy message” and Yechiel Head, Israel's ambassador in the USA, were a young couple who were a young couple who were guests at the event at the event.

Jonathan Harounoff, Israel's spokesman for the United Nations, has posted a photo on X, which is assumed that he shows the victims. “A beautiful couple who is just engaged. With a Jewish young professional, shot in the US capital. A lovable, spoiled, senseless act of cowardly anti -Semitic violence,” wrote Harounoff.

What do we know about the suspect?

The police believe that the shootout was committed by a single suspect who was identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, said the police chief of DC, Pamela A. Smith, at the briefing.

The suspect became up and down in front of the museum building and the museum building before approaching a group of four people, according to Smith, opened a pistol and fire fire. After the shootout, the suspect then joined the museum and, according to an eyewitness that spoke to CNN, first claimed a witness before admitting that he was the shooter. According to officials, Rodriguez sang “Free, Free Palestine” before he was arrested by Event Security, which was also recorded on video that were shared on social media. Rodriguez is now in police custody.

Smith would not comment on Rodriguez 'motif in the ongoing investigation, but said that Rodriguez was not on the radar of the police before the attack.

How did Israel react?

“I am destroyed by the scenes in Washington DC,” said Israel's President Isaac Herzog on X. The community in DC and in the United States and Israel will unite to defend our people and our common values. “

The ambassador of Israel in the UN Danny Danon described the shootout as a “spoiled act of anti -Semitic terrorism” in one post on X. “We are confident that the US authorities will take strong measures against those who are responsible for this criminal action,” added Danon. “Israel will continue to act determined to protect his citizens and representatives – all over the world.”

“We are witnessing the terrible costs of anti -Semitism and the wild incitement against the state of Israel.” My heart mourns the same after the families of the young Beloveds, whose life was demolished by a hideous anti -Semitic murderer in a moment. He added.

“People in Israel are resistant people, the people in the United States are resilient people. Together we are not afraid,” said Head earlier on midnight. “Together we will stand and we will overcome the moral corruptness of people who believe that murder makes political profits.”

How did the United States react?

President Donald Trump published the social truth: “These terrible DC murders, which are obviously based on anti -Semitism, now have to end, now! Hate and radicalism have no place in the United States. The families of the victims expressly express that things can happen! God bless them all!”

At the briefing, the head said that he had called President Donald Trump, who assured him, “his government will do everything they may be able to do to fight and end anti -Semitism, and the hatred that is directed, as well as the demonization and delegitimization of the state of Israel.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi said she visited the scene of the shootout. “Pray for the victims of this violence while we work to learn more,” said Bondi on X. Bondi said at the briefing that she had spoken to Trump several times and that “his prayers are with all of us”.

Bondi added that local, state and state authorities “will do everything in our power to protect all citizens, especially tonight, our Jewish community”.

“We will follow the facts that we will follow the law and this defendant is fully pursued by the law,” said Bondi.

Foreign Minister Marco Rubio has posted on X: “We condemn two employees of the message of Israel in Washington in the strongest possible terms, dc. Our prayers are with their loved ones. This was a lively act of cowardly, anti -Semitic violence.