The FBI has launched an investigation into the tragic shooting deaths of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C. Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, were targeted near the Capitol Jewish Museum.
Lischinsky and Milgrim were leaving an event at the Jewish Museum when a gunman ambushed them. The suspect, 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, was seen pacing outside the museum before the shooting. After the attack, Rodriguez entered the museum, only to later turn himself in to police. He reportedly shouted, “Free, free Palestine” while being handcuffed, further fueling suspicions that the attack was motivated by anti-Semitic sentiments.
The attack has left the Washington, D.C. community in shock. An event focused on humanitarian aid, including for Gaza, turned into a horrific scene of violence.
The news of the killings has prompted widespread condemnation from domestic and international leaders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, calling it a “terrible cost of anti-Semitism” and emphasizing the impact of radical incitement against the state of Israel. Netanyahu also ordered increased security at Israeli diplomatic missions worldwide to prevent further violence.
In the United States, President Donald Trump expressed his condolences, describing the killings as “horrible DC killings based obviously on anti-Semitism” and reaffirmed that “hatred and radicalism have no place in the USA.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also weighed in, calling the murders “brutal” and acknowledging the broader issue of anti-Semitism. Poilievre’s tweet read, “These two innocent souls had lives of promise—lives that were cut short when they were targeted and killed, simply because they were Jewish.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney similarly condemned the murders as a violent act of anti-Semitism, emphasizing that “this hate is intolerable.”
As the investigation continues, the FBI is working closely with local law enforcement and officials from the Israeli Embassy to piece together the events surrounding the killings. Rodriguez remains in custody, and investigators are gathering all relevant information to determine the exact motives behind the attack.
The shooting marks a tragic escalation in anti-Semitic violence and has left a deep scar on the community.
In times of turmoil, conflict, and political disputes, it is peace and love that will ultimately prevail. Everyone who feels the essence of humanity within should raise their voice against any violence, regardless of race, colour, religion, or social status. We are all human, and we all come from God. Our deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. We stand with them and honour their memory.