Two Israeli embassy staff members, one man and one woman, have been shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

Authorities have identified the suspect as Elias Rodriguez, a 32-year-old from Chicago, Illinois. He is currently in custody. Prior to the shooting he was seen pacing outside the museum, according to local police reports. 

According to multiple sources, the shooting occurred around 9:05 pm on May 21 local time as the pair were leaving an event at the museum, a recently opened institution dedicated to chronicling the history of Jewish life in the United States.

The museum, which has quickly become a cultural landmark in the US Capitol's historic district, was hosting a private diplomatic gathering at the time.

Israeli media confirmed that the victims of the attack were Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, a couple who were working at the Israeli embassy. Lischinsky was a research assistant in Middle East and North African affairs, while Milgrim worked in the department of public diplomacy. 

She previously worked at Tech2Peace, a company focused on Israeli-Palestinian peacebuilding through technological developments. Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter confirmed that Lischinsky had planned on proposing to Milgrim within the next week, having already purchased a ring.

"We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and the wild incitement against the State of Israel. The blood libels against Israel come at the cost of blood, and they must be fought until eradicated," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in response to the murders, as quoted by The Jerusalem Post. 

"My heart aches with the families of the beloved young man and woman whose lives were suddenly cut short by a despicable antisemitic murderer," he added.

According to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, US Attorney General Pam Bondi has been in contact with the Israeli government, assuring them that the perpetrator would be prosecuted.