Israeli Embassy Staffers Killed in Washington, D.C. Shooting: Details Emerge

Washington, D.C. — Two employees of the Israeli Embassy, Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night, May 21, 2025, in what authorities are investigating as a possible hate crime. The incident has sent shockwaves through the diplomatic and Jewish communities, prompting widespread condemnation and renewed concerns about rising antisemitism in the United States.

The Incident

The shooting occurred around 9:08 p.m. local time as Lischinsky and Milgrim exited an American Jewish Committee event at the museum, located near the FBI field office and the U.S. attorney’s office in Northwest Washington. According to Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith, the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, was seen pacing outside the museum before approaching a group of four people, producing a handgun, and opening fire. Both victims were found with fatal gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene.

Rodriguez was apprehended inside the museum shortly after the attack. Witnesses and police reported that he shouted “Free, free Palestine” and “I did it for Gaza” during and after his arrest. Authorities stated that Rodriguez had no prior criminal record or known interactions with law enforcement.

The Victims

Yaron Lischinsky was a research assistant in the embassy’s political department, born in Nuremberg, Germany, and a dual German-Israeli citizen. He had moved to Israel at age 16 and was known for his commitment to interfaith dialogue and the Abraham Accords. Sarah Milgrim, a Jewish-American, worked in the embassy’s public diplomacy department and had a background in peacebuilding, including work with Tech2Peace, an organization fostering Israeli-Palestinian dialogue. The couple, described as “young” and “with a bright future,” were reportedly planning to get engaged next week in Jerusalem.

Reactions and Investigation

Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter called the victims “a beautiful couple” and confirmed that Lischinsky had recently purchased an engagement ring. Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack as a “despicable act of hatred,” while Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar attributed it to “toxic anti-Semitic incitement”. The Israeli Embassy expressed profound grief, stating, “Yaron and Sarah were our friends and colleagues. They were in the prime of their lives”.

U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also condemned the shooting, labeling it an act of antisemitism and radical hatred. The American Jewish community responded with pain and anger, with the Anti-Defamation League vowing that Jews “will not be cowed or intimidated” amid a reported rise in antisemitic incidents since October 2023.

Security and Ongoing Response

Authorities are treating the shooting as a targeted attack and a possible hate crime, but the official motive remains under investigation. The Capital Jewish Museum announced plans to reopen in the coming days with enhanced security measures.

The deaths of Lischinsky and Milgrim have reignited concerns about the safety of Jewish and Israeli institutions in the U.S., as well as the broader issue of antisemitism in American society.