A deadly shooting rattled the streets near the Capital Jewish Museum and an FBI field office on Wednesday night in Washington, D.C.
According to media outlets including CNN citing a law enforcement source, two people are dead, with initially one victim believed to be connected to the Israeli Embassy.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem then later confirmed that two Israeli Embassy staff members were killed, in a post to X, formerly Twitter.
“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,” Noem said.
Newsweek reached out to the Washington, D.C., police department via phone late Wednesday for comment but could not reach a public information officer.
What To Know
According to D.C. police, a shooting investigation is underway in the vicinity of 3rd and F Street NW. Local media outlet Fox 5 also reported that two people were killed by gunfire.
The gunman has not been found, as police say they are searching for a white man with a goatee, who was last seen wearing a blue jacket and blue jeans, Fox 5 reports. The man was last spotted on F Street.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she is on the scene with Jeanine Pirro, interim U.S. attorney of Washington, D.C., in a post to X.
Israel Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon also took to X on Wednesday night in reaction to the shooting.
“The fatal shooting that took place outside the event that took place at the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. is a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism. Harming the Jewish community is crossing a red line,” Danon said.
“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,” the ambassador concluded.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office (FBIWFO) also posted to X, saying the bureau is responding to the shooting in conjunction with D.C. police.
“#FBIWFO has responded with our @DCPoliceDept partners to a shooting that occurred tonight on 3rd and F Streets NW. There is no ongoing threat to public safety,” the post said.
What People Are Saying
Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik of New York posted to X on Wednesday: “Horrific. The shooting outside the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. is a heinous act of antisemitic murder and terrorism. U.S. law enforcement must use every tool at its disposal to investigate and prosecute these evil criminals. The U.S. must continue to stand with our most precious ally Israel and work to eradicate this vile antisemitism raging in our streets and around the world.”
Israeli Embassy in D.C. spokesperson Tal Naim Cohen, in a statement posted by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Wednesday: “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.”
Update 5/21/25, 11:51 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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