Two Israeli embassy workers killed by a gunman in Washington DC last night have been identified as a couple who were about to be engaged.
Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgram were shot dead as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in the US capital.
The suspect, who shot at a group of four people, reportedly chanted a pro-Palestinian slogan in custody.
Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the US, said the man killed had “purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem”.
The victims have been named as Sarah Lynn Milgram and Yaron Lischinsky
The reaction to the shooting has been one of shock, with President Donald Trump condemning the “horrible killings” which he said were “based obviously on antisemitism”.
Police say the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, was seen pacing outside the museum prior to the shooting.
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Tearful witness: ‘He shot this young couple’
“After the shooting, the suspect entered the museum and was detained by event security,” Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said.
“Once in handcuffs, the suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered, and he implied that he committed the offence.”
After being taken into custody he was reported to have chanted, “Free Palestine, Free Palestine”.
