Law enforcement works the scene after two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum, Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Washington. Worldmediafeed
Washington, D.C. – May 13, 2025 — Two staff members from the Israeli Embassy in Washington were fatally shot Monday afternoon near the Jewish Museum in downtown D.C., in an incident that authorities are calling a targeted attack.
According to D.C. Metropolitan Police, the shooting occurred just after 2:00 p.m. near the museum entrance on 4th Street NW. The victims, whose names have not yet been publicly released pending notification of their families, were identified as Israeli nationals working in a diplomatic capacity. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the suspected gunman opened fire without warning before fleeing the area on foot. Law enforcement sources said surveillance footage captured the suspect approaching the victims and firing multiple rounds from close range.
Authorities are treating the incident as a possible hate-motivated crime or politically motivated attack. The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have joined the investigation, and extra security measures have been placed at diplomatic missions and Jewish institutions across the city.
“We are horrified and deeply saddened by the loss of two members of the Israeli diplomatic community,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser during an evening press conference. “There is no place for this kind of violence in our city, and we are doing everything possible to bring the perpetrator to justice.”
The Israeli Embassy confirmed the deaths in a brief statement, calling the victims “dedicated civil servants who proudly represented the State of Israel.” Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Herzog, said the embassy was “devastated” and working with American authorities.
“We will not be intimidated,” Herzog said. “This was an attack not only on our colleagues, but on diplomacy itself.”
President Biden was briefed on the situation and expressed condolences to the families of the victims during a White House statement. “We condemn this act of violence in the strongest possible terms,” the statement read. “The United States stands firmly with our Israeli allies.”
The Jewish Museum of Washington was temporarily closed following the incident, and local synagogues and cultural institutions were placed on heightened alert.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation. No arrests have been made, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward. A $50,000 reward has been offered for tips leading to the suspect’s arrest.
As night fell over the capital, flowers and candles began to appear near the scene, where community members gathered to honor the lives lost and stand in solidarity against hatred and violence.
