After two Israeli Embassy staffers had been shot exterior the Capital Jewish Museum, questions had been being raised Thursday about whether or not there was ample safety on the occasion Wednesday nght.
It’s unclear whether or not the museum supplied the kind of safety that consultants ABC Information spoke with stated is routine, particularly with diplomats and officers in attendance.
Metropolitan Police Division Chief Pamela A. Smith confirmed throughout a information convention Thursday afternoon there have been non-public safety officers working the occasion however stated neither on- or off-duty MPD officers had been there.
“We’re working to reopen the museum within the coming days, with all essential safety in place, so we are able to return to telling the story of Jewish Washington for 1000’s of holiday makers from world wide,” Capital Jewish Museum Government Director Beatrice Gurwitz stated.
Former performing Homeland Safety Undersecretary for Intelligence and Evaluation John Cohen, an ABC Information contributor, stated that despite the fact that the taking pictures of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim occurred near the Washington FBI Subject Workplace, “that should not be confused as an elevated safety.”
“What this example does illustrate is that we’re in a interval of heightened risk — a part of that risk is directed on the Jewish neighborhood — and that services related to the Jewish neighborhood, faith-based communities must have put in place safety measures to guard these people who find themselves visiting these places, whether or not it is for companies or for academic actions or particular occasions, such because the one which occurred final night time,” he stated.
Chief of the Metropolitan Police Division of the District of Columbia Pamela Smith speaks throughout a press replace on a taking pictures the night time earlier than, of two Israeli embassy staffers, on the Division of Justice in Washington, D.C., Could 22, 2025.
Drew Angerer/AFP through Getty Photos
Chatting with reporters exterior the Capital Jewish Museum Thursday morning, Legal professional Common Pam Bondi acknowledged she didn’t know of the occasion’s safety posture earlier than the taking pictures occurred.
However when requested by ABC Information if there had been a “a safety failure” given the proximity of the FBI’s Washington Subject Workplace, Bondi denied any lapse in safety.
“I do not suppose anybody would have anticipated what occurred final night time,” Bondi stated. “They had been in an occasion, a stupendous occasion. Individuals had been — it was a dressy occasion. They had been dressed up, they had been all collectively and simply celebrating.
“However no, I feel regulation enforcement had been on the scene instantly due to that, and the good women and men of the FBI are doing an unbelievable job, in addition to Metropolitan police,” she added. “Our [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives] brokers had been out right here. Our U.S. Marshals had been out right here working hand in hand with the mayor and the police chief, who I can’t say sufficient good about proper now.”
Legal professional Common Pam Bondi talks with reporters as regulation enforcement work the scene after two workers members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington had been shot and killed exterior the Capital Jewish Museum, Could 22, 2025, in Washington.
Rod Lamkey/AP
Former Deputy Particular Agent in Cost Derek Meyer, of the Secret Service’s Chicago Subject Workplace, famous that “non-public entities with inside safety operations typically complement their current posture with further safety throughout particular occasions or after they encounter a selected risk or considerations.”
“These with out current safety will usually rent safety or off-duty regulation enforcement for main occasions, holidays, throughout occasions of civil unrest and after they be taught of a direct risk,” he added.
“Sometimes, off-duty regulation enforcement officers function beneath the licensing of a personal safety firm, topic to particular regional statutes and laws,” Meyer stated. “On this capability, these officers are empowered to detain people whom they straight observe committing crimes or if they’ve cheap grounds to imagine against the law has occurred. After detention, the custody of people is promptly transferred to on-duty regulation enforcement upon their arrival.”
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser stated the occasion didn’t fall into the town’s “particular occasions” class by which native and federal regulation enforcement would have a “stood-up posture.”
“This was a comparatively small occasion at a museum, so MPD or the federal government businesses would not get up further sources until they had been requested or until we obtained a name for service,” Bowser stated. Nonetheless, she famous that the native and federal authorities do have grant applications that “have helped establishments, religion establishments and others who’ve been involved about violence, antisemitism or different hateful speech and rhetoric.”
“And really lately now we have issued grants and now we have issued grants during the last a number of years to these establishments to harden their safety and cameras and extra safety, and I imagine that the museum has finished a few of these issues,” she added.
Bondi stated officers imagine the suspect acted alone and that the investigation is ongoing.
“I noticed a younger man’s physique being taken away, who was about to get engaged. He had a lifetime in entrance of him, and that was taken away,” she stated. “The hate has obtained to cease, and it has to cease now. This particular person will likely be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the regulation.”
Members of the group Misaskim clear the sidewalk the place two Israeli embassy workers had been shot useless close to the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, Could 22, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Safety has now been elevated within the space to ensure the Israeli Embassy and ambassador are secure, in addition to at Jewish websites nationwide, the lawyer normal stated, including that she spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday night time.
“It broke my coronary heart to speak to Bibi final night time. He was devastated, and I assured him we had been wanting into this,” Bondi stated. “I additionally spoke to President Trump a number of occasions, who was simply heartbroken and devastated by this.”
“This a day the place all of us want to return collectively, it doesn’t matter what faith we’re,” Bondi emphasised. “And you already know, the Muslim faith really reached out to our rabbis and supplied condolences and despatched a stupendous message that they only confirmed me, and that is what must be taking place.”
In a name with reporters, representatives from main Jewish communal organizations referred to as for extra authorities funding and assist for safety for Jewish establishments within the wake of the taking pictures on Wednesday night time exterior of the Capital Jewish Museum.
Forensics officers examine the taking pictures website exterior the Capital Jewish Museum following a taking pictures that left two individuals useless, in Washington, D.C., on Could 22, 2025.
Drew Angerer/AFP through Getty Photos
Cohen stated faith-based communities must be “staying conscious of the present risk.”
“Good intelligence is the important thing,” he added. “If we wish to stop some of these violent acts, now we have to do a greater job recognizing and evaluating the web and bodily world warning indicators which might be nearly all the time exhibited by these getting ready to conduct an act of focused violence.”
Investigators are reviewing writings posted on X and attributed to suspected shooter Elias Rodriguez, 30, together with a 980-word writing titled, “Escalate For Gaza, Deliver The Battle Residence,” that seem to name for violence in opposition to Israelis. Rodriguez yelled, “Free, free Palestine,” as he was taken into custody within the aftermath of the taking pictures, however it’s unclear if the suspect was beforehand recognized to officers.
“The FBI is conscious of sure writings allegedly authored by the suspect, and we hope to have updates to the authenticity very quickly,” FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino posted an announcement on X Thursday morning, noting that the FBI interviewed Rodriguez at roughly 1 a.m.
Investigators stated they imagine the writings are possible legit however that they’re a key piece of the investigation proper now that they’re working to verify. In “Escalate For Gaza, Deliver The Battle Residence”, the writer addressed the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and suggests the most recent loss of life toll has been underestimated. Citing a so-called shift within the tide of public opinion towards Gaza in latest weeks, the writer appeared to lament the inaction of the U.S. authorities and stated it has criminalized protest.
The writer, showing to commend the “sacrifice” made by Aaron Bushnell, who in February 2024 self-immolated in entrance of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the tried drowning of former Protection Secretary Robert McNamara for his position within the Vietnam Battle, then instructed that many Individuals would choose these actions as “sane.” The writer signed off by sending like to his household and “Free Palestine.”
ABC Information’ Josh Margolin, Helena Skinner, Oren Oppenheim and Jack Date contributed to this report.
