3 months ago
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Two unit members of the Israeli embassy were changeable and killed Wednesday evening portion leaving an lawsuit astatine a Jewish depository successful the nation's capital, and the fishy yelled, “Free, escaped Palestine” aft helium was arrested, constabulary said.
The 2 victims, a antheral and a woman, were leaving an lawsuit astatine the Capital Jewish Museum erstwhile the fishy approached a radical of 4 radical and opened fire, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said astatine a quality conference.
The suspect, identified arsenic Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, was observed pacing extracurricular the depository earlier the shooting, walked into the depository aft the shooting and was detained by lawsuit security, Smith said.
When helium was taken into custody, the fishy began chanting, “Free, escaped Palestine,” Smith said. Smith said instrumentality enforcement did not judge determination was an ongoing menace to the community.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter said the 2 radical killed were a young mates astir to beryllium engaged, saying the antheral had purchased a ringing this week with the intent to suggest adjacent week successful Jerusalem.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was astatine the country with erstwhile justice Jeanine Pirro, who serves arsenic the U.S. lawyer successful Washington and whose bureau would prosecute the case.
“These horrible D.C. killings, based evidently connected antisemitism, indispensable end, NOW!" President Donald Trump posted connected societal media aboriginal Thursday. "Hatred and Radicalism person nary spot successful the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So bittersweet that specified things arsenic this tin happen! God Bless You ALL!’
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said helium was “devastated” by the scenes successful Washington.
“This is simply a despicable enactment of hatred, of antisemitism, which has claimed the lives of 2 young employees of the Israeli embassy. Our hearts are with the loved ones of those murdered and our contiguous prayers are with the injured. I nonstop my afloat enactment to the Ambassador and each the embassy staff."
He added: "We basal with the Jewish assemblage successful DC and crossed the US. America and Israel volition basal agreed successful defence of our radical and our shared values. Terror and hatred volition not interruption us.”
Yoni Kalin and Katie Kalisher were wrong the depository erstwhile they heard gunshots and a antheral came wrong looking distressed, they said. Kalin said radical came to his assistance and brought him water, reasoning helium needed help, without realizing helium was the suspect. When constabulary arrived, helium pulled retired a reddish keffiyeh and repeatedly yelled, “Free Palestine,’” Kalin said.
“This lawsuit was astir humanitarian aid,” Kalin said. “How tin we really assistance some the radical successful Gaza and the radical successful Israel? How tin we bring unneurotic Muslims and Jews and Christians to enactment unneurotic to really assistance guiltless people? And past present helium is conscionable murdering 2 radical successful acold blood.”
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington said successful a connection that they are horrified by the shooting and “mourn the nonaccomplishment of the 2 individuals killed successful the attack.”
“Our hearts are with their families and loved ones, and with each of those who are impacted by this tragic enactment of antisemitic violence,” the federation said.
