NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- New York City increased security at sensitive locations for the Jewish community Thursday after two staffers of the Israeli Embassy were shot and killed Wednesday night in Washington, D.C.
In a statement, the NYPD said: “While there is no known nexus to NYC, in response to last night’s horrific attack in DC targeting Jews and Israelis, the NYPD is increasing its presence at religious sites and cultural institutions with high visibility patrols, heavy weapons teams, and counterterrorism officers.”
Mayor Eric Adams wrote on X that he’s “devastated by the senseless killing outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC.”
“We’re keeping the victims in our prayers and have directed the NYPD to increase security at sensitive locations for the Jewish community here in NYC,” the mayor wrote.
“This act of hateful violence is exactly what it means to globalize the intifada. Let me be clear — antisemitic violence has no place in our country,” Adams continued.
The two people killed—identified as Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, and Sarah Milgrim, an American—were a young couple about to be engaged, according to Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S.
They were shot while leaving an event for young diplomats at the Capital Jewish Museum when the suspect approached a group of four people and opened fire, Metropolitan Police said.
The gunman, identified by police as Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, then walked into the museum, was detained by event security and began chanting, “Free, free Palestine,” according to police.
Chicago television station WLS captured video of heavily armed law enforcement officers outside Rodriguez's apartment on Thursday morning.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino wrote in a post on social media that “early indicators are that this is an act of targeted violence.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.