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Washington, D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith made the revelations while updating the media about the murder. She provided the name of the suspect, Elias Rodriquez, and chronicled the events leading up to the shooting, saying he targeted four people with his gun, according to reports.
“Prior to the shooting, a suspect was observed pacing outside of the museum,” Smith said.
“The suspect chanted, ‘Free, free Palestine,’ while in custody. The suspect has been identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriquez of Chicago, Illinois,” Smith added.
She mentioned that the murder victims were about to be engaged, with the male victim recently purchasing a wedding ring and planning to propose during an upcoming visit to Jerusalem.
“The couple that was gunned down tonight in the name of ‘Free Palestine’ was a couple about to be engaged,” said Smith.
Tal Naim Cohen, a spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., said the victims were shot and killed “at close range,” the Times of Israel reported.
United States Attorney General Pam Bondi visited the crime scene shortly after the news of the murders. She was at the press conference detailing the incident along with Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro. Pirro will prosecute the case. Bondi condemned the act of violence.
Bondi posted about the event on her X account and said she would pray for the victims.
Earlier in the night, Danny Danon, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, also condemned the attack, calling it a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism,” in a post on X.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) also commented about the attack, claiming that the “Free Palestine” mantra is now associated with “terrorism.”
TWO KILLED IN SHOOTING OUTSIDE CAPITAL JEWISH MUSEUM
“‘Free Palestine’ isn’t resistance,” Mace posted. “It’s terrorism. And it’s being fueled by cowards who excuse it with cheap slogans and scarves.
“I support all Jews and the state of Israel,” she added. “‘May their memory be a blessing.’”
