Washington adds security to religious institutions after killings outside Jewish museum
Law enforcement is increasing security around schools and religious institutions in Washington heading into the holiday weekend after an attack that killed two Israeli Embassy staffers.
The plans for additional security measures emerged in a news conference with officials Thursday as the city reeled from the attack hours earlier in which a gunman opened fire on the young couple outside the Capital Jewish Museum.
'You will find us around our faith-based organizations,' said DC Metropolitan Police Department Chief of Police Pamela A. Smith. 'You will see an increased presence around our schools and places like the DC Jewish Community Center. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Jewish community.'
The suspect, 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, told police after the shooting that he wanted to 'free Palestine.' He faces federal charges that include two counts of murder for the deaths of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky. He is also facing felony firearms charges, said Jeanine Pirro, the interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C.
Pirro said authorities are investigating the shooting as a hate crime and an act of terrorism, and may add additional charges.
'This is the kind of case that picks at old sores and old scars,' Pirro said. 'Because these kinds of cases remind us of what has happened in the past, that we can never and must never forget.'
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser earlier Thursday convened a meeting with the Mayor's Interfaith Council, speaking with local Jewish leaders, City Council members and the district's attorney general.
'Sadly, we have had practice standing together as a community to fight antisemitism both in hate speech and in hateful acts,' Bowser said. 'So in this moment we stand shoulder to shoulder as one community united in love but also committed to justice for this young couple.'
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