After the two staff of the Israeli Embassy were shot outside the capital of the Jewish Museum, the question was asked Thursday about whether there was enough security at the Nghht Wednesday.
It is unclear whether the museum provides a type of security spoken by ABC News experts is routine, especially with diplomats and officials present.
Head of the Metropolitan Police Department Pamela A. Smith confirmed during the press conference on Thursday afternoon there were private security officers who worked at the event but said there was no or no MPD task there.
“We are trying to reopen the museum in the coming days, with all the security needed on the spot, so we can re -tell the Washington Jewish story for thousands of visitors from all over the world,” said Executive Director of the Jewish Museum, Beatrice Gurwitz.
The former Acting Acting Troops Acting for Intelligence and Analysis of John Cohen, a ABC news contributor, said that although the shooting of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim occurred close to the Washington FBI field office, “It should not be equated as an increase in security.”
“What is illustrated by this situation is that we are in a period of threats that are increasing from the threat is directed at the Jewish community and that facilities related to the Jewish community, religious-based communities need to put security measures to protect those who visit the locations, whether it is for services or for educational activities or special events, as happened last night,” he said.
Head of the Metropolitan Police Department Columbia District Pamela Smith spoke during a press renewal about the shooting the night, from two Israeli embassy staff, at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC, May 22, 2025.
Drew Angerer/AFP via Getty Images
Speaking to reporters outside the capital of the Jewish Museum on Thursday morning, Attorney General Pam Bondi admitted that he did not know the security posture of the event before the shooting occurred.
But when asked by ABC News if there was a “security failure” given the proximity of the Washington FBI Field Office, Bondi refused mistakes in security.
“I don’t think anyone expects what happened last night,” Bondi said. “They are at an event, a beautiful event. People – that – that – that is a stylish event. They dress, they are all together and only celebrate it.
“But no, I think law enforcement is at the scene immediately because of that, and the great FBI men and women do extraordinary work, and metropolitan police,” he added. “We [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives] The agent is here. Our US Marshal is here in collaboration with the mayor and police chief, who I can’t say quite a lot of good now. “
Attorney General Pam Bondi spoke with reporters when law enforcement did a scene after two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot and killed outside the capital of the Jewish Museum, May 22, 2025, in Washington.
Rod Lamkey/AP
The former special agent representative responsible for Derek Meyer, from the Chicago Secret Service field office, noted that “Private entities with internal security operations often complement existing posture with extra security during special events or when they face special threats or concerns.”
“Those who do not have existing security will usually employ security or law enforcement that is not tasked with big events, holidays, during the civil riots and when they learn about direct threats,” he added.
“Usually, law enforcement officers who are not tasked with operating under licensing private security companies, are subject to certain regional laws and regulations,” Meyer said. “In this capacity, these officers are empowered to hold people who directly observe crimes or if they have a reasonable reason to believe that crime has occurred. After detention, individual custody is immediately moved to law enforcement that is on duty at their arrival.”
Mayor of Washington Muriel Bowser said the event was not included in the category of “special events” of the city where local and federal law enforcement would have a “standing posture.”
“This is a relatively small event in a museum, so MPD or government institution will not defend additional resources unless they are asked or unless we get a call for services,” said Bowser. However, he noted that local and federal governments do have a grant program that has “helped the institution, faith institution and others who have been worried about violence, antisemitism or speeches and other hate rhetoric.”
“And recently we have issued a grant and we have issued a grant for the past few years to these institutions to harden their security and cameras and additional security, and I believe that the museum has done some of these things,” he added.
Bondi said officials believed that the suspect acted on his own and that the investigation was ongoing.
“I see the body of a young man taken away, who will be engaged. He has the whole life in front of him, and it is taken,” he said. “Hate must stop, and it must stop now. This person will be prosecuted as far as the law.”
Misaskim group members cleaned the sidewalk where two Israeli embassy staff were shot dead near the capital of the Jewish Museum in Washington, May 22, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Security has now increased in the area to ensure the Israeli Embassy and Ambassador is safe, as well as on the national Jewish sites, said the Attorney General, added that he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday night.
“My heart was destroyed to talk to aunt last night. She was destroyed, and I convinced her that we were looking for this,” Bondi said. “I also spoke with President Trump a few times, who was only broken heart and destroyed by this.”
“It’s a day when we all need to gather, no matter our religion,” Bondi emphasized. “And you know, Muslim religion really reaches our rabbis and convey condolences and send beautiful messages that they just showed me, and that was what should have happened.”
In a call with journalists, representatives from large Jewish communal organizations called for more government funds and support for security for Jewish institutions after the shooting on Wednesday night outside the capital of the Jewish museum.
Forensic officers investigated the location of the shooting outside the capital of the Jewish museum after the shooting that killed two people, in Washington, DC, on May 22, 2025.
Drew Angerer/AFP via Getty Images
Cohen said the religious -based community must “remain aware of the current threat.”
“A good intelligence is the key,” he added. “If we want to prevent acts of violence of this type, we must do better work to recognize and evaluate the signs of the online and physical warnings that are almost always exhibited by those who are prepared to commit acts of targeted violence.”
Investigators are reviewing the writings posted on X and are associated with the alleged shooter Elias Rodriguez, 30, including the 980 words entitled, “escalation for Gaza, bring home war,” which seems to call for violence against Israel. Rodriguez shouted, “Palestine is free, free,” when he was detained after the shooting, but it was not clear whether the previous suspect was known by the officials.
“The FBI is aware of certain writings allegedly written by the suspect, and we hope to have an immediate authenticity update,” said Deputy Director of FBI and Bongino posted a statement on X Thursday morning, noting that the FBI interviewed Rodriguez at around 1 o’clock in the morning
Investigators said they believed that the writings were possible but they were an important part of the current investigation that they were working to confirm. In “escalation for Gaza, bring home war”, the author discusses the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and suggested the latest deaths have been underestimated. Quoting what is called a shift in the wave of public opinion against Gaza in recent weeks, the writer seems to have mourn the inhibition of the US government and said he had criminalized protests.
The author, who emerged to praise the “sacrifice” made by Aaron Bushnell, who in February 2024 was suppressed in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, and the sinking of former Defense Minister Robert McNamara for his role in the Vietnam War, then suggested that many Americans would assess the action as “Sane.” The author signs by sending love to his family and “Free Palestine.”
ABC News’ Josh Margolin, Helena Skinner, Oren Oppenheim and Jack Date contributed to this report.