Two shot dead outside Jewish museum in Washington DC

The victims have been named as new video reveals the arrest of the alleged Washington DC shooter, who shouted “Free Palestine” as he was dragged off.

A man is in custody after a man and a woman, two Israeli embassy workers, have been shot dead outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC.

One man is in custody following the attack, with new video of the arrest showing the individual shouting: “Free Palestine”.

The victims were identified as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim in a post made by the Embassy of Israel to the USA.

“Yaron and Sarah were our friends and colleagues. They were in the prime of their lives,” the post read.

“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 can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss.

“Our hearts are with their families, and the embassy will be by their side during this terrible time.”

Both US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have reacted furiously to what they describe as a plain-as-day antisemitic attack.

“These horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!” Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.

“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!”

Netanyahu said the attack was a “wild incitement against the State of Israel”.

“We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and wild incitement against the State of Israel. The blood libels against Israel are rising in blood and must be fought to the bitter end,” he said.

Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), confirmed that the organisation had hosted an event at the museum that night.

“We are devastated that an unspeakable act of violence took place outside the venue,“ he said. ”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.”

Two people have been shot outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC.

Shots fired outside Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. Picture: ABC 7 News – WJLA

Both victims are understood to have ties to a foreign embassy, with multiple sources confirming that at least one of them is believed to be a staff member of the Israeli Embassy. Picture: ABC 7 News – WJLA

One of the victims was initially transported to a local hospital in critical condition, according to ABC News sources.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interim US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro visited the scene shortly after the shooting.

“Praying for the victims of this violence as we work to learn more,” Bondi wrote in a post on X.

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon condemned the attack as a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism” on X. “Harming diplomats and the Jewish community is crossing a red line,” he wrote.

A man draped in the Israeli flag, bearing a cross and the name ‘Jesus’ at its centre, gestures as Metropolitan Police officers secure the area. (Photo by Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP)

The Israeli embassy in Washington. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Witnesses reveal chilling detail

Attendees at the event have described the confusion and disbelief that followed the deadly shooting outside the venue.

The event had just ended around 9pm when gunshots were heard outside, according to 28-year-old attendee Sara Marinuzzi.

The victims, later identified by Israeli officials as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were leaving the event when the alleged gunman opened fire.

In the moments that followed, attendees noticed a man running into the museum. He appeared distressed, leading many to assume he was a bystander or potential witness.

“He seemed shaken, so people were asking if he was injured. Security offered him water,” 31-year-old attendee Yoni Kalin told CNN.

Another attendee, Paige Siegel, even spoke with the man.

“I went up to him and asked if he was okay as he muttered ‘call the police’ again and again. He said he was okay. Then I asked if he was shot, he said he wasn’t.”

Marinuzzi described the man’s behaviour as erratic and said he had also asked security to contact the authorities.

Roughly 10 minutes later, police arrived.

It was then, witnesses say, that the man admitted to the shooting.

“He said, ‘I did it, I did it for Gaza. Free Palestine!’” Marinuzzi recalled.

The revelation left attendees stunned.

“He was so shaken when I spoke to him that he seemed harmless,” Siegel said.

“It’s horrible,” added Kalin. “I just didn’t realise he was the perpetrator.”

Originally published as Two shot dead outside Jewish museum in Washington DC