Two staff members from the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC were shot dead on Wednesday night as they were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum, The Associate Press reported.
Washington, D.C. - developing story, active shooter involvement outside The Capital Jewish Museum. 10:36 PM --- details to come. @alanhenney pic.twitter.com/wdAPzQLRPQ
— Anthony Peltier (@_anthonypeltier) May 22, 2025
The shooting happened while the museum was hosting an event organised by the American Jewish Committee, Times of Israel reported citing sources.
The suspect is in police custody, and officials said the investigation is still underway.
The suspect was caught by event security after entering the museum, Mayor Muriel Bowser said at a late-night press conference. Officials added that he was not on any watchlists, and there were no prior security alerts before the shooting.
Posting on his social media platform, Truth Social, Donald Trump said: “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God bless you all!”
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Two Israeli Embassy staff were senselessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC,” US Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem posted on X. “Please pray for the families of the victims. We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice.”
The fatal shooting that took place outside the event that took place at the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. is a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism. Harming the Jewish community is crossing a red line. We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against… pic.twitter.com/mVyXHjGyxU
— Danny Danon 🇮🇱 דני דנון (@dannydanon) May 22, 2025
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon called the incident a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism”.
“Harming diplomats and the Jewish community is crossing a red line,” Ambassador Danon wrote in a post on X. “We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act.”
Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel said he and his team had received a briefing on the shooting. “While we’re working with [Metropolitan Police Department] to respond and learn more, in the immediate, please pray for the victims and their families,” Patel wrote on X.