A man accused of fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staff members outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C., has been charged with murder, authorities said on Thursday.
Elias Rodriguez, 30, was taken into custody after allegedly opening fire on the couple late Wednesday outside the Capital Jewish Museum, located just over a mile from the White House. As he was apprehended, Rodriguez reportedly shouted, “Free Palestine” and “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” according to court documents.
The victims were identified by Israeli officials as Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, a U.S. employee of the embassy. The pair were reported to be a couple planning to marry.
Rodriguez made his initial court appearance on Thursday, facing two counts of first-degree murder and murder of foreign officials. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
Court documents reveal that Rodriguez allegedly approached the victims from behind and fired 21 rounds. Even after they fell to the ground, he continued to shoot, targeting Milgrim as she tried to crawl away.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, highlighting “the terrible price of anti-Semitism” and criticizing “wild incitement against the State of Israel.” In a social media post, U.S. President Donald Trump called the shooting a “clearly anti-Semitic” act, following a conversation with Netanyahu on Thursday.
Authorities are treating the incident as both an act of terrorism and a hate crime. “I suspect as we go forward that there will be more charges added,” said Jeanine Pirro, interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, during a press briefing. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 18.
The tragic event occurred outside the Capital Jewish Museum after a social gathering hosted by the American Jewish Committee for young Jewish professionals and members of the diplomatic community in Washington.
On Thursday, mourners gathered at the museum to sing and pray, honoring the lives of Lischinsky and Milgrim.
