A young couple have been shot dead as they were leaving a Jewish event in Washington DC on Wednesday night.
Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim were described as being in the “prime of their lives” by the Israeli embassy, where they both worked. Mr Lischinsky was reportedly about to propose to Miss Milgrim.
The alleged shooter, Elias Rodriguez, 30, from Chicago, was filmed shouting “free, free Palestine” while being detained. He is now in custody.
Israel’s foreign minister said the attack was a direct result of “toxic antisemetic incitement” since the 7 October 2023 attack that prompted Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The FBI is investigating whether the shooting is linked to terrorism or a hate crime.
The couple were leaving a networking event at the museum, organised by the American Jewish Committee, at about 21:08 (local time) when a man opened fire with a handgun at a group of four people.
The suspect then went inside the museum. Witnesses said that they initially thought the man was distressed and gave him water.
“We heard gunshots and then a guy came in… we thought he needed help,” eyewitness Katie Kalisher told the BBC, referring to the suspect before they realised he was the alleged shooter.
Footage then captures the suspect shouting “free, free Palestine” while being detained by police.
Metropolitan Police Department chief Pamela Smith said officers “have not had any prior interactions” and did not see anything in his background “that would have placed him on our radar”.
The Israeli Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, told reporters that Mr Lischinsky had just bought an engagement ring and was planning to propose to Miss Milgrim next week in Jerusalem.
“They were a beautiful couple.”
Both US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have condemned the attack.
Writing on 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.”
While Netanyahu promised increased security at Israeli embassies around the world following the attack.
“My heart aches for the families of the beloved young man and woman, whose lives were cut short by a heinous antisemitic murderer,” he said.
“We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and wild incitement against the state of Israel.”
The sentiment was echoed by his Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar who accused European countries of “incitement”.
“This incitement is also done by leaders and officials of many countries and international organisations, especially from Europe.”
His comments follow pressure this week from the UK, EU and France over Israel’s military action and control over humanitarian aid in Gaza, where experts have warned of a looming famine.
The shooting, which happened in a downtown area of the city that has numerous tourist sites, museums and government buildings, triggered a major police response and shut down several main streets.
JoJo Kalin, a board member of the American Jewish Committee who helped organise the event, said she did not witness the shooting but felt a “sense of guilt” about what happened.
“I’m not going to lose my humanity over this or be deterred. And that Israelis and Palestinians both still deserve self-determination and [it is] just deeply ironic that that’s what we were discussing,” she said.
The event was billed as a networking opportunity to bring Jewish young professionals and the diplomatic community together. Its description said humanitarian aid organisers responding to humanitarian crises in the Middle East, including Gaza, were invited.
The Capital Jewish Museum, like many other Jewish institutions in the US, has struggled with security issues amid rising antisemitism.
“Jewish institutions all around town, all around the country, are concerned about security due to some very scary incidents that some institutions have faced and because of a climate of antisemitism,” executive director Beatrice Gurwitz told NBC News in a separate news report before the attack on Wednesday.
The museum recently received a grant to upgrade its security in part, she said, because of a new exhibit on LGBT pride.
—BBC
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