Washington shooting: Donald Trump sends condolences to families of Israeli Embassy staff shot in street

Donald Trump has sent his condolences to the families of two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington.

Emergency services rushed to the scene at around 9.15pm on Wednesday (2.15am Thursday in UK) in the US capital, reports local media. around the Capital Jewish Museum in Penn Quarter, DC, following the incident.

Pamela Smith, chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, confirmed a suspect is in custody in connection with the shooting. The suspect has been named as Elias Rodriguez, 30, from Chicago, Illinois. Smith said that the suspect was seen pacing outside the museum before he “approached a group of four people, produced a handgun and opened fire striking both of our decedents.”

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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. 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.

Yechiel Leiter, the ambassador to the US, confirmed the two victims were a couple were due to travel to Jerusalem to get engaged after a ring had been purchased. No further details about the man and woman, such as their names and their ages, have been disclosed by police at this stage.

Pamela Smith, chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, said: “The preliminary investigation indicates that both victims were exiting an event at the Capitol Jewish Museum located in the 500 block of Third Street Northwest when the shooting occurred,” Smith said. “We believe the shooting was committed by a single suspect who is now in custody. Prior to the shooting, the suspect was observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum.”

US Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is as the scene, said at a news conference following the shooting which killed two people, that she spoke with President Donald Trump “multiple times tonight.”

President has now broken his silence in his first comments on Wednesday night’s shooting. He took to Truth Social to share his condolences to the families of the two Israeli Embassy staff members who were killed near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC.

Trump wrote: "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!"

The incident triggered a major police response and sevreal streets in the city rermain closed to the public while police continue to investigate.

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