Just days before a planned proposal in Jerusalem, Israeli embassy staffer Yaron Lischinsky had quietly purchased an engagement ring for his girlfriend and colleague Sarah Milgrim. He never got the chance to give it to her.

The couple were gunned down Wednesday night outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., moments after leaving a Young Diplomats reception hosted by the American Jewish Committee. According to Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, Lischinsky, 30, had planned to propose during their upcoming trip to Israel for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.

Their deaths drew waves of grief in both Israel and Overland Park, Kansas, Milgrim’s hometown. Milgrim, 26, graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in environmental studies and later earned a master’s in international affairs from American University. “She was thrilled” about joining the Israeli Embassy, her father, Robert Milgrim, told NBC News. “I couldn’t have been prouder.”

Sarah Milgrim & Yaron Lischinsky.

Robert said he feared the worst when news alerts mentioned a fatal shooting near the museum. When his wife checked a locator app and saw their daughter was at the scene, their anxiety turned to dread. Moments later, they received the call from the ambassador confirming their worst fears. It was also during that call that they learned Lischinsky had recently bought the ring.

The American Jewish Committee described Milgrim as “warm and compassionate,” someone deeply committed to peacebuilding, sustainability, and cross-cultural dialogue. She was part of the AJC-Mimouna Michael Sachs Fellowship, which brings together young leaders from the U.S., Israel, France, and Morocco to strengthen ties across the Middle East and North Africa.

Aaron Kaplowitz, president of the United States-Israel Business Alliance, recalled meeting Milgrim in Morocco last fall. “Bringing Jews and Muslims together meant a lot to her,” he said. “That’s who she was.”

Lischinsky held a German passport and had immigrated to Israel at age 16 from Nuremberg. He later earned a degree in international relations and Asian studies from Hebrew University in 2021. Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor noted that while Lischinsky was Christian—born to a Jewish father and Christian mother—he was a staunch Zionist who served in the IDF and remained deeply devoted to Israel. “He embodied Judeo-Christian values,” Prosor wrote, “and set an example for young people worldwide.”

At the embassy, Lischinsky worked in the political department, focusing on Middle East affairs. The AJC remembered him as a welcoming presence who “always had a smile.”

Authorities continue to investigate the killing. The suspect, Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, was heard yelling “Free, free Palestine” as police arrested him. At a press conference, Ambassador Leiter said, “The couple that was gunned down tonight in the name of ‘Free Palestine’ is a young couple about to be engaged.”

Sarah and Yaron met at the embassy over a year ago. “They were stolen from us,” AJC CEO Ted Deutch said. “Moments before they were murdered, they were laughing and enjoying the company of friends and colleagues. We are heartbroken.”

The attack occurred amid a broader backdrop of rising tensions. More than 18 months have passed since Hamas launched its Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist assault on Israel, killing over 1,200 and taking hundreds hostage. In response, Israel launched a bombing campaign and ground offensive in Gaza. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza claims over 53,000 people have since died, many of them women and children. The conflict has ignited worldwide protests, including widespread demonstrations on U.S. college campuses, alongside a troubling rise in antisemitism.