Couple 'about to be engaged' killed by embassy gunman shouting 'free palestine'

A gunman who shot dead a young couple about to get engaged in the street near a Jewish museum in Washington DC shouted "Free Palestine" as he was arrested. Emergency services

rushed to the scene at around 9.15pm on Wednesday after Sarah Milgram was killed alongside her partner Yaron Lischinsky in the incident in the US capital. Police officers warned members of

the public to avoid the area around the Capital Jewish Museum in Penn Quarter and the Metropolitan Police Department confirmed Elias Rodriguez of Chicago is now in custody after he allegedly

“approached a group of four people, produced a handgun and opened fire striking both of our decedents.” The suspect then entered the museum where he was detained by event security, and

chanted “Free Free Palestine” while in custody. Mayor Muriel Bowser reassured the community that “there is no active threat” while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also spoke out about the

violence. Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the US, confirmed the two victims were a couple about to be engaged. Both were employees of the Israeli Embassy. THIS LIVE BLOG HAS NOW

ENDED. 12:51KEY EVENT WASHINGTON SHOOTER SUSPECT SHOUTED 'FREE PALESTINE' DURING ARREST A video taken in the US has shown the moment the Washington shooter suspect was arrested,

and shouted "Free, free Palestine" towards the cameras. Local police have identified the gunman as Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old from Chicago. In the video he can be seen being

placed in handcuffs and, as he was lead away, shouting: "Free, free Palestine. Free, free Palestine". 12:01Antony Clements-Thrower 'ANTISEMITISM IS AN EVIL WE MUST STAMP

OUT' - KEIR STARMER The Prime Minister has led condemnation from the UK of the overnight shooting, adding “antisemitism is evil”. Keir Starmer spoke out after the couple were shot

leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. The PM said: “I thoroughly condemn the antisemitic attack outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC. “Antisemitism is an evil we must stamp

out wherever it appears. “My thoughts are with their colleagues, family and loved ones, and as always, I stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.” Foreign Secretary David Lammy also

condemned the incident, adding he was “horrified by the killing of two Israeli Embassy staff". 10:44Antony Clements-Thrower FBI 'FULLY ENGAGED' AS AGENTS FOLLOW UP ON LEADS

The deputy director of the FBI says investigations by its agents show the shooting was an “act of targeted violence.” Speaking on X, Dan Dan Bongino wrote: “The subject is currently being

interviewed by DC Metro in conjunction with our FBI JTTF team. “The US Attorney’s office is on scene with me, and our WFO management team, at the Washington Field Office reviewing the

evidence to determine additional actions. “The shooting happened a short distance from our Washington Field Office. Our FBI police officers, assigned to posts on the WFO property,

immediately responded and rendered aid after the attack. “Early indicators are that this is an act of targeted violence. Our FBI team is fully engaged and we will get you answers as soon as

we can, without compromising additional leads.” 09:46Antony Clements-Thrower 'THEY WERE IN THE PRIME OF THEIR LIVES' The Israeli Embassy to the USA has paid tribute to Yaron and

Sarah who were in the “prime of their lives” when they were killed. Their identities were confirmed earlier today after the horror attack last night. They wrote on X: “Yaron and Sarah were

our friends and colleagues. They were in the prime of their lives. “This evening, a terrorist shot and killed them as they exited an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in DC. The entire

embassy staff is heartbroken and devastated by their murder. “No words can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss. “Our hearts are with their families, and the

embassy will be by their side during this terrible time.” > Yaron and Sarah were our friends and colleagues. They were in the > prime of their lives. >  > This evening, a 

terrorist shot and killed them as they exited an > event at the Capital Jewish Museum in DC. >  > The entire embassy staff is heartbroken and devastated by their > murder. No 

words… pic.twitter.com/2HytKDp8Fr > — Embassy of Israel to the USA (@IsraelinUSA) May 22, 2025 09:11KEY EVENT FEMALE VICTIM OF WASHINGTON DC SHOOTER NAMED FOR THE FIRST TIME The woman

shot dead last night in Washington DC in a horror attack has been named for the first time. Sarah Milgram was killed alongside partner Yaron Lischinsky in the incident in the US capital.

08:21KEY EVENT 'BEAUTIFUL COUPLE' SHOT DEAD IN HORROR ATTACK PICTURED FOR FIRST TIME The couple shot dead in last night’s horror attack have been pictured for the first time. Yaron

Lischinsky, 28, and his as of yet unnamed partner, who he is said to have been close to proposing to, died in the shooting in Washington DC near the Capital Jewish Museum in Penn Quarter. A

sweet picture of the happy couple has now been shared. Investigations into the tragedy are ongoing. 06:34Paige Ingram "TERROR AND HATE WILL NOT BREAK US" A man draped in the

Israeli flag, bearing a cross and the name "Jesus" at its center, has been photographed gesturing to police officers as they secure the area outside the Capital Jewish Museum. It

comes after Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on X: "I am devastated by the scenes in Washington DC. This is a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism, which has claimed the lives

of two young employees of the Israeli embassy. Our hearts are with the loved ones of those murdered and our immediate prayers are with the injured. I send my full support to the Ambassador

and all the embassy staff. We stand with the Jewish community in DC and across the US. America and Israel will stand united in defense of our people and our shared values. Terror and hate

will not break us." 06:14KEY EVENT DONALD TRUMP SPEAKS OUT Donald Trump has sent his condolences to the victims families following the tragic incident that resulted in two Israeli

Embassy staff members beeing killed. READ THE FULL STORY HERE. 05:54Paige Ingram WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE SUSPECT SO FAR Before the shooting the suspect was seen pacing back and forth outside

the museum ahead of the shooting, officials said. After the shooting, the gunman entered the museum and was detained by event security, telling them he had discarded the weapon, which was

recovered by authorities. At a press conference he has now been named as Elias Rodriguez, 30, from Chicago, Illinois. He chanted “Free free Palestine” while in custody. Rodriguez was not

previously known to police prio to this incident. Police say they believe he was the sole shooter and there is no active threat remaining. 05:28Paige Ingram ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI AT THE

SCENE Pam Bondi described the incident as 'horrible' as she confirmed on X that she is at the scene and is 'praying for the victims'. > I am on the scene of the 

horrible shooting outside the Washington, > DC Capital Jewish Museum with @USAttyPirro. Praying for the victims > of this violence as we work to learn more. > — Attorney General 

Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) May 22, 2025 05:23KEY EVENT DC MAYOR SAYS “NO ACTIVE THREAT” FOLLOWING SHOOTING Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser, reassured the community that “there is no

active threat.” During a news conference Bowser said: " “I will say up front that there is no active threat in our community.” Bowser went on to share a message of unity: “We’re going

to stand together as a community in the coming days and weeks to send the clear message that we will not tolerate antisemitism.” 05:18KEY EVENT SUSPECT NAMED AND IN CUSTODY, POLICE CHIEF

SAYS Pamela Smith, chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, confirmed one suspect is in custody in connection with the shooting near Capital Jewish Museum. Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, IL

has been identified as the man who shot and killed the two Israeli government employees. Smith said that the suspect “approached a group of four people, produced a handgun and opened fire

striking both of our decedents.” After the shooting, Smith said that the suspect then entered the museum and was detained by event security. The suspect chanted “Free Free Palestine” while

in custody, Smith said. 05:13Paige Ingram TWO PEOPLE SHOT WERE A COUPLE ABOUT TO BE ENGAGED The two people shot Wednesday night near the the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC were a

“young couple about to be engaged,” according to Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the US. “The couple that was gunned down tonight in the name of ‘Free Palestine,’ was a young

couple about to be engaged. A young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem. They were a beautiful couple,” Leiter said.

05:12Paige Ingram TWO STAFF MEMBERS WERE SHOT "AT CLOSE RANGE" A spokesman for the Israeli embassy confirmed that two staff members were shot "at close range" while

attending the event at the museum. "We have full faith in law enforcement authorities on both the local and federal levels to apprehend the shooter and protect Israel's

representatives and Jewish communities throughout the United States," said spokesman Tal Naim Cohen. 04:46Paige Ingram FBI DIRECTOR BREAKS SILENCE Director of the Federal Bureau of

Investigation Kash Patel has asked the public to pray for the victims. Kash Patel became the ninth Director of the FBI on February 20, 2025. Prior to being confirmed as the Director of the

FBI, Mr. Patel founded The Kash Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that raises money for legal defense matters, education programs, and financial assistance for all Americans, with a special emphasis

on active-duty military, veterans, and law enforcement communities. > My team and I have been briefed on the shooting tonight in downtown > DC outside the Capital Jewish Museum and 

near our Washington Field > Office. While we’re working with MPD to respond and learn more, in > the immediate, please pray for the victims and their families. We > will keep… > 

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) May 22, 2025 04:37Paige Ingram POLICE REMAIN AT THE SCENE A large number of emergency service vehicles remain at the scene. In a statement, D.C.

police urged members of the public to avoid the vicinity as the investigation continues. 04:35Paige Ingram POLICE PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED The DC Police Department has confirmed a press

conference will take place shortly - during which more information about the shooting will be released to the public. > Alert: Shooting investigation in the area of 3rd and F Street NW.

> Avoid the area. Details to come. > — DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) May 22, 2025 04:24KEY EVENT ISRAEL'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS BLASTS 'ANTI-SEMITIC

TERRORISM' Multiple sources are suggesting the shooting was terror-related. The Mirror is working to verify this. Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, has

tweeted: "The shooting outside the event at the Jewish Museum in Washington – in which Israeli embassy employees were also injured – is a criminal act of anti-Semitic terrorism.

Attacking 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."