Gov. JB Pritzker says he is "horrified" after deadly shooting outside Capital Jewish Museum in D.C.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said he is "horrified" after two Israeli Embassy employees were shot and killed Wednesday night while leaving the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.
In a written release, Prizker said, "Make no mistake: this was an attack on the Jewish community."
The shooting suspect has been identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago. The suspect was arrested after what law enforcement called a targeted attack.
Prizker said a member of his team attended the event in D.C. on Wednesday night and was "thankfully safe."
The governor, who is Jewish, released the following statement:
"An evening of connecting and belonging hosted by the American Jewish Committee quickly turned into a nightmare. Young Jewish people and diplomats came together in a museum built to honor their shared history but then had to flee gun shots and witness the killing of a young couple. As a Jew who led the building of a museum dedicated to standing up against bigotry and hatred, I know how sacred these places are and what trauma this incident has caused.
"Whether it's gun violence or the rising tide of antisemitism, Americans of all backgrounds have an urgent obligation to stand for peace and reject bigotry in all its forms and in every way possible."
The Israeli Foreign Ministry identified the victims in a post on X, saying, "We are shocked and horrified this morning by the news of the brutal terrorist attack that claimed the lives of two of our Embassy staff members in Washington — Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. May their memory be a blessing."
Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the U.S., told reporters they were on the verge of getting engaged.
Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th), the only Jewish member of the Chicago City Council, said she spoke with Police Supt. Larry Snelling, who confirmed that while there is no local threat, the 24th (Rogers Park) District, which is home to the city's largest Jewish population, is increasing patrols.
"I ask for law enforcement to investigate any ties to local extremist groups and to act swiftly to make sure the Jewish community in Chicago is kept safe," Silverstein said. "It is time for us to stop allowing antisemitism to masquerade as violent, anti-Israel action. It is time for our elected leaders to keep our local communities safe."
Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement on X, "Acts of antisemitism, hate, and violence have no place in our nation."
"I strongly condemn the antisemitic attack resulting in the murder of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky - two Israeli embassy staff - at the Capital Jewish Museum last night in Washington, DC. We send our deepest condolences and pray for the victims, their families, colleagues, and those who loved them," Johnson wrote.
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, who is Jewish, called the shooting "horrific and unacceptable."
"Antisemitism has skyrocketed in the last decade and, as we've seen time and time again, can lead to devastating violence. Today, we mourn the innocent lives lost and hold close all those impacted. May their memories be a blessing and a call to action to cast this ancient hatred aside once and for all," she wrote in a post on X.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi released a statement on the shooting, writing, "I am heartbroken and outraged by the horrific violence that took place last night at the Capital Jewish Museum, which claimed the lives of two members of the Israeli embassy staff. As we continue to learn more, my deepest condolences are with the victims' families, the survivors, and all those affected by this senseless tragedy. In this time of grief, I stand in solidarity with the Jewish community in Washington and across the country. No one should ever have to fear for their safety while gathering in a space of culture, memory, and reflection. Antisemitism must be confronted with zero tolerance, and we must remain united in our commitment to ensuring that all communities are safe from violence and hate."
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, speaking to the press in D.C., said he was shocked "this is just blocks away from where we're standing, and the two Israeli Embassy officials being shot down there is horrible."
"I would say that it is clearly an example of the violence that we're seeing in society, but even worse, hate crimes and antisemitism appear to be at the heart of this," Durbin added.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, condemned the shooting as "completely unacceptable."
"We condemn last night's deadly attack on Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C.
"While millions of Americans feel extreme frustration at the sight of the Israeli government slaughtering Palestinian men, women and children on a daily basis with weapons paid for with our taxpayer dollars, political violence is an unacceptable crime and is not the answer.
"Such violence only undermines the pursuit of justice. Peaceful protest, civil disobedience and political engagement are the only appropriate and acceptable tools to advocate for policy change in our nation, including an end to U.S. support for the Israeli government's genocide in Gaza."
Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Chicago office of CAIR, also condemned the shooting.
"We stand squarely against vigilante violence — even against those who may be complicit in genocide. It is lawless and criminal.
We also reject the cynical attempts to link an act of a lone wolf to the movement of tens of thousands of peaceful anti-genocide protesters on our streets and in our schools. The fact is, the shooter departed from our peaceful movements, instead choosing to adopt Israeli government tactics: Israel assassinated seven foreign embassy personnel in Damascus a year ago.
Lastly, we urge the media and the public to show equal concern for all victims of violence. For months, hundreds of innocent Gazan children have been slaughtered, and thousands now face deadly starvation. I have yet to receive a request for a statement. I reject the insinuation that their lives are any less worthy. Their stories deserve the same attention, outrage, and empathy."
