WASHINGTON (7News) — An engaged couple, both employed at the Israeli embassy, were shot while leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Northwest D.C. late Wednesday by a man who was arrested shortly after, according to D.C. and federal officials.
The man and woman were killed after shots reportedly rang out near 3rd and F Street, Northwest, at around 9:15 p.m., near the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Washington Field Office in Northwest D.C., officials said.
Several other people were also leaving the scene at the time of the shooting.
The suspect, tentatively identified as a 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, Illinois, was seen pacing in front of the building moments before the incident and was taken into custody shortly after. The man allegedly all but admitted to the crime and allegedly yelled “Free, Free, Palestine” at the time of his arrest, according to D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith during a news conference late Wednesday night.
Officials said there is no active threat to the community. The suspect did not have any previous run-ins with law enforcement, and local officials were not alerted to anything beforehand, officials said.
“[T]he horrific incident is going to frighten a lot of people in our city and in our country, and I want to be clear that we will not tolerate this violence or hate in our city, we will not tolerate any acts of terrorism, and we’re going to stand together as a community in the coming days and weeks to send a clear message that we will not tolerate anti semitism,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser during the late night press conference.
The American Jewish Committee confirmed they hosted an event at the museum Wednesday evening.
Officials from the Israeli embassy said the young couple were engaged, adding that they’d briefly spoken to President Donald Trump moments before facing the cameras.
“We are a resilient people; the people of Israel are resilient people,” said an official with the Israeli embassy told media outlets. “The people of the United States of America are resilient people. Together, we won’t be afraid together, we’ll stand and we’re going to overcome moral depravity of people who think that they’re going to achieve political gain through murder.”
FBI Washington Assistant Director in Charge Steve Jenson said they will help investigate any potential terrorism ties or hate/bias motivations.
Earlier in the day, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, called the incident a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism” on social media.
Interim US Attorney for D.C. Jeannine Pirro and Attorney General Pam Bondi went to the scene this evening, sources told ABC News. Officials with the Trump administration said they were working to help D.C. with the investigation.
This story is developing. Stay with 7News for the latest information.
