The sole suspect in the tragic shooting of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
Elias Rodriguez, 31, allegedly opened fire on a crowd on Wednesday evening as they left an event for young professionals and diplomats organized by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy organization that combats anti-Semitism and supports Israel.
According to charging documents, Mr. Rodriguez told police at the scene, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.”
Witnesses reported hearing him shout, “Free Palestine,” after his arrest.
Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim were set to become engaged
Following the shooting, Israeli embassies worldwide promptly increased security measures.
In addition to the two counts of first-degree murder, Mr. Rodriguez faces multiple charges in a comprehensive six-page criminal complaint, including murder of foreign officials, causing death with a firearm, and using a firearm in a violent crime.
Interim US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, recently appointed by President Donald Trump as the chief federal prosecutor in Washington, stated at a press conference that the charges against Mr. Rodriguez represent a “death penalty-eligible case.”
“We will continue to investigate this as both a hate crime and an act of terrorism,” Ms. Pirro informed reporters.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi previously indicated that the suspect is believed to have acted alone.
During his first court appearance yesterday, Mr. Rodriguez waived his right to a detention hearing, and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for June 18.
His comments during the hearing were minimal, responding only with “I do” when a federal magistrate judge asked if he understood his rights.
The charges were brought forward as the FBI and local police examined apparent writings and political associations of the suspect.
Law enforcement officers are visible at Elias Rodriguez’s residence in Chicago.
According to the FBI affidavit, the suspect arrived in the Washington area from Chicago on Tuesday.
On Wednesday night, police reported he was seen pacing outside the museum, located just over 2 km from the White House, shortly before the shooting.
Surveillance footage captured Rodriguez firing repeatedly at Mr. Lischinsky and Ms. Milgrim, then leaning over them to shoot several additional rounds after they collapsed, and after Milgrim attempted to crawl away and sat up, according to the FBI affidavit within the criminal complaint.
The gunman paused to reload before continuing to fire, the affidavit states.
He then discarded his weapon, retreated into the museum, and was arrested after drawing attention to himself as the shooter by pulling out a red Palestinian-style keffiyeh scarf and declaring that he “did it,” the affidavit detailed.
Watch: Suspect restrained by security following shooting at museum
Investigators recovered a 9mm handgun purchased in Illinois five years prior, along with 21 spent shell casings and a firearm magazine from the scene, according to the complaint.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino posted on social media that investigators were “aware of certain writings allegedly authored by the suspect” and expected updates regarding their validity soon.
Mr. Bongino’s statement appeared to reference a manifesto signed with Mr. Rodriguez’s name that was uploaded to an anonymous X account shortly before the shooting.
Previously, Mr. Rodriguez was associated with a far-left group in Chicago, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, as noted in a post from the group on X. They stated Mr. Rodriguez had a brief connection to a PSL branch that ended in 2017, asserting they had no further involvement with him in over seven years.
“We have no relation to this shooting and do not endorse it,” the organization emphasized.
21 spent shell casings and a firearm magazine were recovered from the crime scene.
Additionally, Mr. Rodriguez was identified in a 2018 local news report as a member of the Chicago branch of a national organization known as ANSWER, which stands for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, and has organized demonstrations in support of Palestinians.
At the time of his arrest, Mr. Rodriguez was employed at the American Osteopathic Information Association, a healthcare non-profit, which confirmed his employment and expressed condolences for the victims.
He had also been an oral history researcher at The History Makers, a non-profit dedicated to preserving African American narratives, according to a now-deleted biography on the organization’s website, and served as a content writer for technology companies.
Born and raised in Chicago, Mr. Rodriguez graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in English.
Flowers and messages were placed near the crime scene in Washington.
President Trump condemned the shooting.
“These terrible D.C. killings, clearly rooted in antisemitism, must be halted, NOW!” he stated in a message on Truth Social. “Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his sorrow for the victims’ families, “whose lives were abruptly taken by a despicable anti-Semitic murderer.”
“We bear witness to the devastating impact of anti-Semitism and incendiary rhetoric against the State of Israel,” he remarked on X, adding that both issues must be vigorously opposed.
