WASHINGTON D.C. – A man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, including the murder of foreign officials, and other felony firearms charges following the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. on Wednesday night.

 

Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, is now facing a potential death penalty case, with federal authorities investigating the incident as an act of terrorism and targeted antisemitic violence.

 

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The victims, identified as 30-year-old Yaron Lischinsky and 26-year-old Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were a couple who worked for the Israeli Embassy in Washington. They were tragically killed as they left a networking event at the Capital Jewish Museum.

 

According to Israel’s ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, Lischinsky had purchased an engagement ring and was planning to propose to Milgrim next week during a trip to Jerusalem.

Rodriguez was apprehended at the scene, where he was heard shouting “Free Palestine!”

 

A court document filed by the FBI states that Rodriguez told officers, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed.” The affidavit from an FBI agent further notes that Rodriguez spontaneously made this statement while holding a red scarf, identified by a witness as a keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian identity. As he was escorted out of the museum, he again shouted, “Free Palestine.”

 

Interim US Attorney for the District of Washington Jeanine Pirro announced the charges, stating that more, including terrorism charges, could be added as the investigation progresses. Pirro indicated that it is “far too early to say” if the death penalty would be sought, but confirmed it is a “death penalty eligible case.”

 

Investigation Reveals Intent and Background

The FBI’s Steve Jensen confirmed that the killings are being treated as “both an act of terror and directed violence against the Jewish community.” Investigators are actively reviewing Rodriguez’s social media accounts and contacting his associates, as well as investigating “writings” purported to be from him. It is believed Rodriguez traveled to Washington D.C. for a work conference, arriving the day before the attack. Despite this, law enforcement officials, including FBI and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith, stated that Rodriguez was not previously known to the FBI or on their radar.

 

Widespread Condemnation and Global Ramifications

The tragic event has drawn immediate and strong condemnation from across the political spectrum and around the globe. US President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that the attack was “so sad” and “based obviously on antisemitism.” DC Mayor Muriel Bowser emphasized that “this crime will not be tolerated in our city.”

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu linked the shooting to the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, and has promised increased security at Israeli embassies worldwide. He expressed deep sorrow for the victims, lamenting the “heinous antisemitic murderer” and the “terrible price of antisemitism and wild incitement against the state of Israel.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar echoed these sentiments, directly attributing the attack to “toxic antisemitic incitement” since October 7. He spoke with Yaron Lischinsky’s father, telling him his son “fell as a soldier falls on the front lines.” Amichai Chikli, Israel’s Minister for Diaspora Affairs, went further, accusing leaders from the UK, France, and Canada of “emboldening the forces of terror” through their recent criticisms of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

 

International condemnation poured in from other nations.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy called it an “appalling, antisemitic crime,” while France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described it as “an abhorrent act of antisemitic barbarity.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italy’s foreign minister also condemned the violence, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stating, “There is and should be no place in our societies for hatred, extremism, or antisemitism.”

 

Community Impact and Heightened Security

The shooting occurred in a bustling downtown area, less than a mile from Capitol Hill and approximately 1.3 miles from the White House, triggering a major police response and traffic disruptions. The Capital Jewish Museum expressed its profound sadness and horror at the “senseless violence.”

Jewish community leaders in Washington D.C. held an emotional vigil, with many expressing deep grief and fear. Rabbi Levi Shemtov, who knew the victims, highlighted the need for increased security, stating that Jewish community organizations have already been bolstering their defenses “especially after 7 October,” and will now enhance them even further.

 

The incident comes at a critical juncture amidst escalating international criticism over Israel’s military offensive in Gaza and the dire humanitarian crisis there. While officials in Israel have firmly linked the shooting to antisemitism and global criticism of the Gaza war, some voices, like Israeli citizen Nimrod Flaschenberg, living in Germany, believe that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government’s policies are endangering Israelis abroad. Conversely, Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter rejected the notion that rising antisemitism is a consequence of Israel’s “defense of its country.”

 

As the investigation continues, authorities are working to piece together Rodriguez’s full motive and background, while the global community grapples with the devastating implications of this targeted act of violence. A preliminary hearing for Rodriguez is scheduled for June 18.