Two staff members of Israel’s embassy in the United States have been shot dead in an attack outside a Jewish museum in the capital.

The deadly shooting occurred at about 9pm on Wednesday near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, according to authorities.

Pamela A. Smith, the chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, said authorities had detained a single suspect over the shooting, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, Illinois.

“Prior to the shooting the suspect was observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum. He approached a group of four people produced a handgun and opened fire, striking both of our decedents,” Smith said at a press conference.

Smith said Rodriguez chanted, “Free, free, Palestine,” while in custody.

Israel’s ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, said the deceased were a “beautiful couple” that had been planning to get married.

“The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem,” Leiter said.

US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said federal authorities were investigating the circumstances of the attack.

“Please pray for the families of the victims. We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice,” Noem said in a statement.

The American Jewish Committee, which had hosted an event at the museum, said it was “devastated that an unspeakable act of violence took place outside the venue”.

“At this moment, as we await more information from the police about exactly what transpired, our attention and our hearts are solely with those who were harmed and their families,” the organisation said.

US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said she was at the scene of the shooting and was “praying for the victims of this violence as we work to learn more”.

Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, called the shooting a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism.”

“Harming the Jewish community is crossing a red line,” Danon said.

“We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act. Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives – everywhere in the world.” (Al Jazeera, but headline rejigged)

•PHOTO: An ambulance and police vehicles line a street where two Israeli embassy staff were shot dead near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, on May 21, 2025 [WJLA via Reuters via Al Jazeera]