Couple Shot Dead Outside Jewish Museum In Washington DC

A couple described as being in the “prime of their lives” have been shot dead in Washington DC outside a Jewish museum, by a man who police say shouted “free, free Palestine” after the attack.

Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, who both worked for the Israeli Embassy, were gunned down outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night.

Elias Rodriguez, 30, from Chicago, who police allege is the shooter, is in custody.

The FBI says it is looking into “ties to potential terrorism or motivation based on bias-based crime or a hate crime”.

President Donald Trump has condemned the attack and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “outraged by the horrifying antisemitic murder” of the victims.

President Donald Trump has condemned the attack and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “outraged by the horrifying antisemitic murder” of the victims.

The couple were leaving a networking event, organised by the American Jewish Committee, at the museum around 21:08 (local time) when a man opened fire with a handgun at a group of four people.

The suspect then went inside the museum, where he was detained. Police said he chanted “free, free Palestine” while in custody.

“We heard gunshots and then a guy came in looking really distressed. We thought he needed help,” eyewitness Katie Kalisher told the BBC, referring to the suspect.

Metropolitan Police Department chief Pamela Smith said officers “have not had any prior interactions” and did not see anything in his background “that would have placed him on our radar”.

Mr Lischinsky had been planning to propose to his girlfriend, Miss Milgrim, next week, said the Israeli Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, who was not at the event.
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