00:00Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'm Chief Pamela A. Smith, Chief of Police for the Metropolitan Police Department, and I'll start by expressing my sincere condolences to both of the victims and the families and also the attendees tonight at the Capitol Jewish Museum.
00:19At approximately 9.08 p.m. tonight, we received multiple calls for a shooting in the area of 3rd Street and F Street Northwest. Offices located one adult male and one adult female unconscious and not breathing at the scene. D.C. Fire and EMS responded, and despite all life-saving efforts, both victims succumbed to their injuries.
00:41The preliminary investigation indicates that both victims were exiting an event at the Capitol Jewish Museum located in the 500 block of 3rd Street Northwest when the shooting occurred.
00:54We believe the shooting was committed by a single suspect who is now in custody. Prior to the shooting, the suspect was observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum.
01:04He approached a group of four people, produced a handgun, and opened fire, striking both of our decedents. After the shooting, the suspect then entered the museum and was detained by event security.
01:18Once in handcuffs, the suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered, and he implied that he committed the offense.
01:28The suspect chanted, free, free Palestine, while in custody. The suspect has been tentatively identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, Illinois. Our NPD case detectives are leading this investigation.
01:48I will now turn it over to Washington Field Office Associate Director Steve Jensen.
01:56Thank you, Chief.
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