BREAKING: Two people shot outside Jewish Museum in Washington DC

One man and a woman were shot and killed outside of an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, on Wednesday night.

According to NBC, the two victims were members of the staff at the Israeli Embassy. 

The shooting occurred just blocks from the local FBI field office, the US attorney’s office, and the DC police headquarters. FBI officials and Attorney General Pam Bondi and interim U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro have reportedly joined the response by the DC police.

Tal Naim Cohen, spokeswoman for the Israeli embassy in Washington, said in a statement, "Two staff members of the Israeli embassy were shot this evening at close range while attending a Jewish event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. We have full faith in law enforcement authorities on both the local and federal levels to apprehend the shooter and protect Israel’s representatives and Jewish communities throughout the United States."

The event was an annual Young Diplomats Reception hosted by the American Jewish Committee’s (AJC) DC Young Professional Board. Jewish Insider reported that participants at the event planned to discuss efforts to respond to humanitarian crises in the Middle East and North Africa, including in Gaza. AJC CEO Ted Deutch said in a statement, “American Jewish Committee (AJC) can confirm that we hosted an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC this evening. We are 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.”

A witness told Josh Kraushaar, editor in chief of Jewish Insider, "After the shooting, a guy came inside saying he saw it and needed water and a safe space, then whipped out a keffiyeh and yelled free Palestine a bunch before being escorted out by police." 
 

FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement following the shooting, "My team and I have been briefed on the shooting tonight in downtown DC outside the Capital Jewish Museum and near our Washington Field Office. While we’re working with MPD to respond and learn more, in the immediate, please pray for the victims and their families. We will keep the public updated as we are able."

US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said following the shooting, "Two Israeli Embassy staff were senselessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC. We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share. Please pray for the families of the victims. We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice."

Danny Danon, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, posted on X, "The fatal shooting that took place outside the event that took place at the Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, is a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism. Harming the Jewish community is crossing a red line. 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."

This is a developing story.