A man accused of fatally shooting two Israeli embassy staffers outside Washington’s Capital Jewish Museum was charged with murder on Thursday, amid growing global concerns over anti-Semitism. According to prosecutors, 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez shouted “Free Palestine” as he was arrested, later telling police, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.”
Rodriguez, a Chicago resident, faces two counts of first-degree murder, including charges related to the killing of foreign officials. He could face the death penalty if convicted.
Authorities are treating the incident as both a hate crime and a potential act of terrorism. Interim U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro suggested more charges may follow, with a preliminary hearing set for June 18. The shooting has sparked international condemnation, with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar blaming European criticism of Israel’s Gaza campaign for fueling anti-Semitic violence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of the deadly consequences of such rhetoric, while France dismissed the accusations as baseless.
The victims, Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli national, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, a U.S. embassy employee, were engaged and had attended a nearby Jewish community event before the attack. Security footage showed Rodriguez pacing outside before opening fire on the couple, shooting 21 times—even as Milgrim attempted to escape.
The attack occurred shortly after the museum received a security grant due to rising global anti-Semitism. Witnesses initially mistook the gunman for a victim. Both victims worked at the Israeli embassy—Lischinsky in research, Milgrim in public diplomacy.
The incident has reignited debates over the impact of the Israel-Gaza conflict on global Jewish communities, with mourners in Washington expressing fear and sorrow over increasing anti-Semitic sentiment.
