Latest news with #WashingtonMetropolitanPolice
CTV News
4 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
‘Ridiculous': How Washington residents view the new troops in town
Department of Homeland Security Investigations agents join Washington Metropolitan Police Department officers as they conduct traffic checks at a checkpoint along 14th Street in northwest Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) WASHINGTON — Outside the busiest train station in Washington, newly deployed National Guard troops wearing camouflage lean on a huge military Humvee. Wary residents and curious tourists stop to take photos, while inside the elegant Union Station a string trio plays 'What a Wonderful World.' Christian Calhoun, a 26-year-old consultant who was born and raised in the US capital, told AFP that seeing the troops made him 'more than disappointed -- I'm furious.' 'It's a lot of standing around,' he added. Declaring that Washington is overrun by crime and plagued by homeless people, President Donald Trump has deployed 800 National Guard troops, as well as ordering a federal takeover of the city's police department. Over more than an hour on Thursday afternoon, the most that the handful of troops at Union Station interacted with the public was to let a French tourist take a selfie with them. Larry Janezich, an 81-year-old resident, said he had not seen the troops taking part in 'any kind of meaningful action that is dedicated to the prevention of crime.' Patricia Darby, a 65-year-old retiree, said that the troops 'don't want to be here,' pointing to how some had their faces covered. Calhoun said he does 'feel bad' for them as they wore heavy combat gear as temperatures soared above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (33 Celsius). 'Fake news' On his Truth Social platform, Trump this week described Washington as 'under siege from thugs and killers,' with higher crime rates than 'many of the most violent Third World Countries.' Residents outside Union Station rejected the apocalyptic image. 'It's ridiculous, and it really just shows how (Trump) sees the people that live here,' Calhoun said. 'It's totally false, and obviously promulgated on his media to justify an unwarranted exercise of federal power,' Janezich said. Gerry Cosgrove, a 62-year-old tourist from the Scottish city of Edinburgh only in Washington for two days, had a simple response when asked about Trump's portrayal of the city: 'To quote a phrase: fake news.' Trump has also ordered homeless people to 'move out' of Washington. 'Where are they going to go?' Darby asked, after fetching a bottle of water for a homeless person in the heat. Randy Kindle, who volunteers with a protest group in a tent outside Union Station, told AFP he was afraid that homeless people could now end up in confinement or jail 'when all they need is help.' Guadalupe, a homeless man in his late 70s originally from Mexico, told AFP that the troops had asked him to move on Wednesday night. 'They have no manners,' he said in Spanish. 'I almost felt sick' during the interaction, he added. Calhoun said he had mostly seen the troops outside train stations, adding that he noticed they had 'a lot of focus on cannabis use.' Washington legalized cannabis use on private property in 2015, however it is still prohibited under federal law. Several residents also raised the cost of deploying the troops in their city. 'It's a waste of money -- I think D.C. was safe,' Darby said.
NBC News
06-08-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Trump threatens federal control of D.C. following attack on administration staffer known as 'Big Balls'
President Donald Trump threatened Tuesday to have the federal government take control of Washington, D.C., after an assault on a well-known original staffer for the Department of Government Efficiency in the nation's capital over the weekend. Edward Coristine, also known by his online name, 'Big Balls,' and a woman characterized in a police report as his significant other were the victims of an unarmed attempted carjacking early Sunday. Washington Metropolitan Police on Tuesday announced the arrests of two 15-year-old suspects from Maryland. In a social media post that did not mention Coristine by name, Trump described crime in Washington as being 'totally out of control.' 'Local 'youths' and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16-years-old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent Citizens, at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released,' Trump wrote on Truth Social, saying minors as young as 14 should be tried as adults. 'If D.C. doesn't get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that they're not going to get away with it anymore,' he added. Former DOGE head Elon Musk posted a screenshot of Trump's Truth Social post on X and echoed his call to have the federal government take control of Washington. Musk also referred to an unnamed DOGE staffer in his post. 'A few days ago, a gang of about a dozen young men tried to assault a woman in her car at night in DC,' Musk wrote on X. 'A @Doge team member saw what was happening, ran to defend her and was severely beaten to the point of concussion, but he saved her.' The police report said the vehicle belonged to Coristine. The report added that police officers saw about 10 'juveniles' surrounding the car and assaulting Coristine, which prompted the officers to get out of their vehicle and all but two of the juveniles, whom police arrested, to flee. Police said that in an interview, Coristine said he pushed the woman identified as his significant other into the car and 'turned to deal with the suspects,' who in turn assaulted him. Police said the case is under investigation by the Carjacking Task Force, with multiple suspects outstanding. Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for Washington, posted a video on X on Tuesday saying she had just met with Trump to discuss 'crime in the nation's capital.' 'Our job is to get guns off the street, drugs off the street, take care of those individuals who are threatening, carjacking other people, and make this city safe and clean again. And that's just what we're going to do. And if you don't buy into it, you're going to have to deal with us,' Pirro said. She did not mention Coristine in her video. Despite Trump's claims of 'out of control' violence in the city, violent crime is down 26% from last year, according to preliminary police figures. At the same time, the alleged attack on Coristine comes about a month after a 21-year-old congressional intern was caught in crossfire and fatally shot in Washington. Trump has previously expressed a desire to 'clean up' the nation's capital and has threatened a federal takeover of the city, which already has limited ability to self-govern. Congress has the ability to rescind those powers at its and the president's discretion.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Diplomats in Canada feel safe but 'vigilant' after U.S. shootings: Israeli ambassador
OTTAWA — Israel's ambassador in Canada said the country's diplomatic team in Ottawa feels safe but must remain "vigilant" after a shooting killed two employees of the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. Iddo Moed said in an interview Thursday the embassy is "shocked and devastated" by what happened. "We have to be aware that risks nowadays are greater than ever before," Moed said, noting the steep rise in antisemitism and acts of hatred and violence targeting Jews around the world, including in Canada. "We have to do whatever we can to try and stop this violent expression of hatred that is out there … We all have to do whatever we can to stop those who are out there to harm others." Canadian politicians and Jewish groups expressed horror and outrage at the shooting which killed Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, and American citizen Sarah Milgrim. The young couple were shot as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington. Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith told a news conference Thursday that the suspect was seen pacing outside the museum before he approached a group of four people and opened fire. Prime Minister Mark Carney said he is "devastated and appalled" by the killings, calling it a targeted attack on the Jewish community and condemning it "in the strongest terms." "My prayers are with Yaron and Sarah, their grieving loved ones, and the entire Jewish community," he said in a post on social media. In her own social media post, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said antisemitism and the "violence and fear it brings are beyond deplorable and must stop." Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Lischinsky and Milgrim "had lives of promise" that were cut short when they were "targeted and killed, simply because they were Jewish." "Antisemitism is the world's most enduring form of hatred. We see it rear its ugly head close to home here in Canada as well, with violence, vandalism, and intimidation in our communities," he said on social media. "We must speak the truth, stand with the Jewish community, and unite to erase this hatred from Canada and the entire world." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Thursday he was shocked by the attack. 'We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and wild incitement against Israel,' he said in a media statement. Several police forces said they had increased patrols following the shooting. York Regional Police north of Toronto said they'll be increasing their presence around synagogues and other places of worship, as well as at schools and community centres. "There is no immediate threat to our region and these patrols are in place to support all members of our community," police said. Toronto Police said they will have a "visible presence" across the city. Police also said they'll be present at Sunday's Walk with Israel event in Toronto and that "anyone who attempts to incite violence or target others based on race, religion, or any other factor will face immediate and decisive action. "Acts of hate will not be tolerated." Canada's Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman said on social media the killings were "a horrible attack of hatred and antisemitism." "I, together with all of my Embassy of Canada colleagues, offer our deep and sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victims. Canada condemns antisemitism in all its forms." Advocacy organization B'nai Brith Canada said in a statement the shooting is "what happens when hate is allowed to flourish." "This wasn't just an attack on two innocent people. It was the bloody consequence of a culture that has normalized antisemitic hatred under the banner of activism," the group said in a media statement. "Canada's leaders must act — not with statements, but with consequences — against those who incite, radicalize, and poison our public spaces with hate." Liberal MP Ben Carr said on social media the killings Wednesday demonstrate "why added security measures are needed to protect religious minorities at a time of intensified hate — particularly against the Jewish community which is overwhelmingly and disproportionately the target of hate crimes in Canada." — With files from The Associated Press, Jordan Omstead in Toronto and David Baxter in Ottawa This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 22, 2025. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israeli embassy staffers were likely "targeted" by alleged shooter who yelled "free Palestine"
Two employees of the Israeli embassy were shot and killed in Washington, D.C. Wednesday evening as they were leaving an event at a Jewish museum. The suspect, who yelled "free, free Palestine" during his arrest, according to police and video from the scene, was quickly taken into custody. Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said at a news conference that a man opened fire on a group of four people outside the Capital Jewish Museum, hitting the pair. The victims, locally employed staff who the Israeli foreign ministry said were working to promote reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians, were identified as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. The lone gunman, identified as Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, was seen pacing outside the museum ahead of the shooting and walked into the museum afterward, where event security detained him, Smith told reporters at a news conference. "Once in handcuffs, the suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered, and he implied that he committed the offense," she said, per Reuters, adding that Rodriguez had no prior contact with police. Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino said on X that local police and the FBI were interviewing the suspect, noting that early indicators point to the shooting being "an act of targeted violence." "Our FBI team is fully engaged and we will get you answers as soon as we can, without compromising additional leads," he said. The fatal shooting comes amid heightened tensions over Israel's war in Gaza, as the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues its bombardment of the territory and blockade of aid with the United States' unconditional support, and faces increased condemnation on the global stage. Since Israel's 1.5-year-long offensive in Gaza started following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, rights groups have seen a notable uptick in antisemitism and anti-Arab hate in the U.S. With President Donald Trump's battle with higher education escalating — hinging access to federal funding, in part, on universities agreeing to stifle student protests — the shooting is also likely to increase scrutiny of pro-Palestinian activists on college campuses across the nation. Two immigrant student protesters made headlines earlier this year after Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and detained them. The president condemned the shooting early Thursday. 'These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!' Trump posted on social media. 'Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.' Netanyahu said Thursday that he was "shocked" by the "horrific, antisemitic" shooting and that his heart breaks for the victims. 'We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and wild incitement against Israel,' he said in a post to X. However, Yair Golan, head of the Israeli opposition, argued that Netanyahu was himself to blame for the incident. 'I share the grief of the families of those murdered in the attack in Washington and support all employees of the State of Israel's Foreign Service,' he wrote on X. 'It is Netanyahu's Kahane Hai government that is fueling anti-Semitism and hatred of Israel, and the result is unprecedented political isolation and danger to every Jew in every corner of the globe." The activist group Jewish Voice for Peace, which opposes Israeli military actions in Gaza and the West Bank, also spoke out against the attack. "We condemn last night's fatal shooting of two staff of the Israeli embassy in Washington D.C.," the group said on X. "We are grounded first and foremost in the belief that all human life is precious, which is precisely why we are struggling for a world in which all people can live in safety and dignity." The two victims of Wednesday night's attack were a young couple about to be engaged, according to Israel's ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter. He said Lischinsky had just purchased a ring with the intent of proposing to Milgrim next week in Jerusalem. The shooting occurred after the American Jewish Committee's annual Young Diplomats reception, billed as a special event that brings together Jewish young professionals and Washington's diplomatic community. 'This is a shocking act of violence and our community is holding each other tighter tonight,' Ted Deutch, the American Jewish Committee's CEO, said in a statement early Thursday, according to the Associated Press. 'At this painful moment, we mourn with the victims' families, loved ones, and all of Israel. May their memories be for a blessing.'
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Who Is Elias Rodriguez? Suspect Named in Israeli Embassy Staff Killings
Authorities have identified a suspect in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy workers near a Jewish museum in Washington D.C. as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago. Israel's embassy in the U.S. named the victims as Yaron and Sarah. "No words can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss," it said. Video footage on social media showed a man chanting "free, free Palestine" being led away by officers inside what appeared to be the Washington D.C. Capital Jewish Museum. Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith told reporters the suspect made the same chant while in custody. Smith said a man had been seen pacing outside the museum before the shooting. One eyewitness inside the museum told WAGA-TV a man ran into the building after the shooting and was initially offered help. "The security guard happened to let this guy in. I guess they were thinking and he was covered in rain, he was clearly in trauma, he was in shock, and some of the people in the event brought him water, they sat him down 'are you ok? Were you shot? What happened?' He's like 'somebody call the cops.' "So about 10 minutes later when the cops actually came in he said 'I did this,' he said 'sir I'm unarmed,' he put his hands up he grabbed a red keffiyeh out of his pocket and started the free Palestine chants. You know 'there's only one solution intifada revolution' and he was being dragged out of the building as he was yelling 'free Palestine'." This article will be updated. 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
