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Two Israeli embassy staff members were shot and killed on Wednesday night outside the Capital Jewish Museum on the 300 block of F Street NW at around 9:15 E.T.

Josh Kraushaar of Jewish Insider reported that the museum was the venue for the annual Young Diplomats Reception hosted by the American Jewish Committee’s DC Young Professional Board.

He added that a witness told him, “After the shooting a guy came inside [the museum] saying he saw it and needed water and a safe space, then whipped out a keffiyeh and yelled free Palestine a bunch before being escorted out by police.”

Metropolitan Police identified the shooter as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, Illinois.

“The suspect chanted, ‘Free, free Palestine’ while in custody,” according to D.C. Chief of Police Pamela A. Smith.

Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., called the shooting “a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism.”

“The fatal shooting that took place outside the event that took place at the Jewish Museum

in Washington, D.C. – in which Israeli embassy employees were also injured – is a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism,” he wrote on X. “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.”

This is a developing story and will be updated. 

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