A young couple, a ring, and a moment of joy that never came: Israeli Embassy staff killed in Washington were planning to get engaged next week
They had come to the Capital Jewish Museum on a quiet evening — a young couple, colleagues at the Israeli embassy in Washington, attending an event just blocks from the Capitol. They were leaving together when, police say, a gunman approached and opened fire.
Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim died from their injuries despite emergency efforts at the scene. But in the hours that followed, as diplomats and officials reeled from the attack, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, shared a detail that deepened the sense of loss.
'The couple that was gunned down tonight in the name of 'Free Palestine' was a young couple about to be engaged,' he said in a statement. 'A young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem. They were a beautiful couple.'
Yaron and Sarah were our friends and colleagues. They were in the prime of their lives.
This evening, a terrorist shot and killed them as they exited an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in DC.
The entire embassy staff is heartbroken and devastated by their murder. No words… pic.twitter.com/2HytKDp8Fr
— Embassy of Israel to the USA (@IsraelinUSA) May 22, 2025
The shooting took place outside the museum on Wednesday evening. Police said a man opened fire on a group of four people, killing two. The suspect, identified as Elias Rodriquez, 30, of Chicago, was taken into custody at the scene. He allegedly chanted 'Free, free Palestine' while detained, according to Washington, DC, Police Chief Pamela Smith.
Officials have not linked the suspect to any known extremist groups. The investigation is ongoing.
Trump condemns 'horrible' DC killings
United States President Donald Trump condemned the shooting, stating that there was no place for hatred and antisemitism in the US.
'These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!' he said in a post on his Truth Social handle. '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!'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also released a statement saying that he was shocked by the killings, expressing condolences to the families of the deceased.
'We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and the wild incitement against the State of Israel,' Netanyahu said. 'The blood libels against Israel are costing us blood and must be fought relentlessly.'
'My heart aches for the families of the beloved young man and woman, whose lives were cut short by a heinous anti-Semitic murderer,' he said in a statement.
He further said that security will be heightened at all Israeli embassies around the world.
'I have ordered security arrangements to be boosted in Israeli diplomatic missions around the world and around representatives of the state,' he said.
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