4 hours ago
Last Updated:May 22, 2025, 13:52 IST
Two Israeli Embassy staff members were shot down by a man on Wednesday night in Washington DC.
Washington DC shooting outside Jewish museum (Reuters Image)
The two Israeli Embassy staffers, who were shot dead outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC on Wednesday night, were about to get engaged next week, Israel’s ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, said.
In what officials said was an “act of antisemitism", two members of the Israeli Embassy were gunned down outside the museum by a Chicago man, identified as Elias Rodriguez. As the man was being arrested, he yelled, “Free, free Palestine."
“The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem. They were a beautiful couple," Leiter said in a news conference.
“They were a beautiful couple out for an evening in Washington’s cultural center"Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter: the victims were about to be engaged — the young man had bought a ring just this week and planned to propose in Jerusalem next week 💔 pic.twitter.com/Ud2GhO0Irc
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) May 22, 2025
However, the authorities have not disclosed the names of the victims so far.
The Israeli ambassador was not at the location when the shooting took place, an embassy official said earlier in the evening.
Soon after the shootout, President Donald Trump said, “hatred and radicalism have no space" in the country.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said, “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!"
Location :Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:News world ‘Young Man Bought A Ring’: Jewish Museum Victims Were A Couple, Set For Engagement Next Week
