Two Israeli Embassy staffers killed in Washington shootout

Two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC were Wednesday in a shooting incident carried by a single suspect

[Two Israeli embassy staff were shot dead near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC Wednesday May 21, 2025. (Inset) Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim.]

Washington: Two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC were Wednesday in a shooting incident carried by a single suspect.

Embassy of Israel to the USA identified them as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim.

The two were shot and killed as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in the area of 3rd and F Streets in Northwest, a part of central Washington that is about 1.3 miles (2 km) from the White House.

"We believe the shooting was committed by a single suspect”, Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said.

Suspect identified

The suspect has been identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, Illinois, Pamela said.

The suspect shouted 'free, free Palestine' while in custody, Smith said. She however did not elaborate on a suspected motive for the attack.

The Israeli diplomat shooter has been identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago.

He was seen shouting “Free Palestine” while being taken into custody.

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The shootings could give political impetus to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right partners to take a harder line in the conflict in Gaza as well as generate sympathy for Israel from Western allies who were piling pressure on him to ease the aid blockade in the war-ravaged territory, Reuters reported.

Israelis are in the midst of carrying genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and are being criticised for blocking aid into the besieged strip and using starvation as weapon.

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