The nation’s capital is reeling after a shocking double tragedy unfolded within hours.
Violence struck at the heart of America’s intelligence community and diplomatic corps.
And CIA security guards were forced to make one terrible decision that left Washington DC on edge.
A woman with a troubled past crashes into CIA headquarters
Early Thursday morning around 4 a.m., a 27-year-old woman named Monia Spadaro drove her vehicle directly at the main gates of CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, forcing security guards to open fire.
The woman drove into the main entrance through the outbound lane, and when security guards tried to stop her she evaded them and continued toward the gate, drawing their fire.
The front gate at Headquarters is closed until further notice. Please use alternate routes for Thursday, May 22nd.
— CIA (@CIA) May 22, 2025
Spadaro was found guilty in 2021 on a charge of driving while intoxicated, filings in Arlington General District Court show. Her sentence of 180 days in jail was suspended, according to the court filings.
Law enforcement agencies are investigating whether or not she may have been intoxicated at the time of the crash.
The shooting was non-fatal, but Spadaro was transported to a hospital with gunshot wounds to her upper body.
“There was a security incident that law enforcement responded to outside CIA Headquarters,” a CIA spokesperson said. “The main gate is currently closed until further notice. Additional details will be made available as appropriate.”
The vehicle never entered the CIA compound, and no security officers were hurt during the incident.
This wasn’t the first security breach at CIA headquarters
The CIA has faced multiple security incidents in recent years at its heavily fortified Langley facility.
In 2021, an FBI agent shot and killed a man outside who claimed to have a bomb, the FBI said.
CIA headquarters was the site of an hourslong standoff in March.
The latest incident forced the closure of the main gate at one of America’s most sensitive intelligence facilities.
Fairfax County Police Department said it was providing support as the CIA investigated the incident.
Employees were directed to use alternate routes while the investigation continued.
A night of terror rocks the nation’s capital
The CIA shooting came just hours after an even more devastating attack that sent shockwaves through Washington’s diplomatic community.
Two Israeli Embassy staff members — Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim — were gunned down outside the Capital Jewish Museum Wednesday night by a shooter who yelled “Free, free Palestine” after being arrested.
The victims were a couple about to become engaged, said Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter.
“The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem,” Leiter said.
The suspect was identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, who was observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum before he approached a group of four people, produced a handgun, and shot the two victims.
FBI Director Kash Patel called the attack “an act of terror.”
Security measures ramped up across Washington
The back-to-back incidents have put law enforcement on high alert throughout the Washington, D.C. area.
In Washington, D.C., the Secret Service on Wednesday night increased the security posture and patrols for the Israeli Embassy and the residence of the Israeli ambassador, officials said.
In New York City, the NYPD expanded its presence and security measures at Jewish and Israeli facilities and locations connected with the Israeli government.
“We’ll be doing everything in our power to keep all citizens safe, especially tonight our Jewish community,” US Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters late Wednesday.
“These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA,” President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social, expressing his condolences to the families of the victims.
Two different incidents with no apparent connection
Law enforcement officials have been quick to point out that there appears to be no connection between the CIA shooting and the museum attack.
There is no known connection between the CIA incident this morning and last night’s shooting of two Israeli government employees in Washington, D.C.
However, the timing of both incidents within hours of each other has rattled the nation’s capital.
The CIA incident appears to be the result of an individual with a history of impaired driving making a dangerous decision at a highly secure facility.
The museum shooting, meanwhile, has all the hallmarks of a targeted terrorist attack motivated by anti-Israeli sentiment.
Both incidents highlight the ongoing security challenges facing federal facilities and diplomatic missions in an increasingly volatile environment.
The FBI continues to investigate both shootings as separate incidents.
Washington, D.C. residents and federal employees are on edge as law enforcement works to determine if there are any additional threats to public safety.
The back-to-back violence serves as a stark reminder of the dangerous times we live in and the brave men and women who risk their lives to protect our nation’s most sensitive facilities and diplomatic personnel.
Related posts:
Stephen Miller dropped one bombshell demand on ICE agents that left them scrambling
