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A suspect has been apprehended in connection with the shooting of two Israeli Embassy personnel near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, May 21. According to Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith, the individual, identified as Elias Rodriguez, disclosed the location where he discarded a firearm. Police then recovered the weapon. Smith stated that Rodriguez “implied that he committed the offense.” This article provides details on the suspect, Rodriguez, and the circumstances surrounding the incident involving the Israeli Embassy staff members.
Incident Near the Capital Jewish Museum
On the evening of May 21, a shooting occurred in downtown Washington D.C., outside the Capital Jewish Museum. Two individuals were critically wounded as they departed an American Jewish Committee event. Organizers stated the event focused on providing aid to people in Gaza.
Authorities identified the two victims as a young couple, who were soon to be engaged.
Jojo Kalin, an event organizer, told BBC Today that the suspect returned to the venue following the shooting. Security personnel, believing him to be a bystander or witness, allowed him entry. Kalin described the suspect as “very distraught” and noted that she did not observe a weapon on his person at the time. However, he then “[whipped] out his red Jordanian keffiyeh, and he [yelled] ‘Free Palestine.'”
Kalin expressed that it was “deeply ironic” that an event centered on fostering coalitions in the Middle East was “hit over the head with such hatred.”
Elias Rodriguez: Suspect Profile
Elias Rodriguez, age 30, is the primary suspect in the shooting of the two Israeli Embassy representatives. Multiple news sources have reported that he is a Chicago native.
Beyond this, limited information is currently available regarding Rodriguez. Chief Smith noted during a press conference following the shooting that the DC Metropolitan Police Department had no prior contact with him.
“We don’t see anything in his background that would have placed him on our radar,” Smith stated, according to BBC reports. “Our joint terrorism task force is working very closely with the FBI to ensure that we can do a deep dive into his background.”