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A pro-Palestinian man is in custody after allegedly killing two Israeli Embassy staff members who were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, authorities confirmed.
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said during a news conference that officers responded to multiple calls of a shooting near the museum at around 9:08 p.m. on Wednesday.
When authorities arrived at the scene, a man and a woman were found unconscious and not breathing. Despite life-saving efforts from first responders, Smith said both were pronounced dead.
A 30-year-old man identified as Elias Rodriguez, of Chicago, is believed to have committed the act alone and is in custody, Smith said. His gun was also recovered.
HOUSE STAFFER VICTIM OF ARMED CARJACKING IN POPULAR WASHINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD
Two Israeli Embassy staff members were shot and killed during an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)
Smith said the preliminary investigation shows Rodriguez was allegedly observed pacing back and forth outside the museum before he approached a group of four people exiting the building, including the two victims, and began shooting.
He then entered the museum where he was detained by event security. While in custody, he yelled "Free, free Palestine!" Smith said.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser described the shooting as "horrific," and assured the community "there is no active threat." She also said the city "will not tolerate this violence or hate."
"We will not tolerate any acts of terrorism," Bowser said, in part. "We will not tolerate antisemitism."
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, of Chicago, has been taken into custody in connection with the deadly shooting. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Tal Naim Cohen, a spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in the capital, confirmed to Fox News that two diplomats were shot "at close range" while a Jewish event was taking place at the museum. The American Jewish Committee confirmed it was hosting the event in a post on X.
"We have full faith in law enforcement authorities on both the local and federal levels to apprehend the shooter and protect Israel’s representatives and Jewish communities throughout the United States," Cohen said.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said DHS is "actively investigating" the incident and "working to get more information to share."
"Please pray for the families of the victims. We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice," Noem wrote on X.
Danny Danon, Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, said an event was taking place at the museum and the deadly shooting was a "depraved act of anti-Semitic(sic) terrorism" in a statement posted to X late Wednesday night.
"Harming diplomats and the Jewish community is crossing a red line. We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act. Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives – everywhere in the world," he wrote.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to DC police, the Israeli embassy and the Capital Jewish Museum.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
