A 30-year-old man from Chicago, Elias Rodriguez, has been charged with first-degree murder and related firearm offenses after allegedly shooting and killing two Israeli embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. The victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were part of a group exiting an event when they were targeted. Rodriguez was arrested at the scene and is being held without bond.
Authorities are investigating the incident as a hate crime, with U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro describing it as “an act of terror and directed violence against the Jewish community.” Rodriguez reportedly shouted “free Palestine” before his arrest, and social media accounts linked to him indicate he had traveled to Washington, DC for a work conference.
The Israeli government has condemned the attack, with Ambassador Yechiel Leiter expressing horror over the killings. The U.S. Department of Justice is considering whether to seek the death penalty, pending further investigation. Rodriguez’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 18.
This tragic event has raised concerns about rising anti-Semitic violence and the safety of foreign diplomats in the United States. The FBI and local law enforcement continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the shooting.
