By Durkin-Richer, Alana
Washington (AP) According to court documents released on Wednesday, the guy who is suspected of killing two employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington outside a Jewish museum has been charged with federal hate crimes.
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Elias Rodriguez faces nine accusations, including a hate crime resulting in murder, in the indictment, which was submitted to a federal court in Washington. Notice of special findings, which would enable the Justice Department to possibly seek the death penalty, is also included in the indictment.
Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim are alleged to have been shot dead by Elias Rodriguez in May as they were leaving a museum event. As he was led away following his detention, he could be heard yelling, “Free Palestine.” According to federal authorities, he informed investigators, “I did it for Gaza and for Palestine.”
After prosecutors took the case to a grand jury, Rodriguez was charged with hate crimes on top of his prior accusations of murdering foreign officials and other offenses. This implies that when Rodriguez opened fire on Lischinsky and Milgrim, a young couple who were getting engaged, prosecutors will have to demonstrate that his actions were motivated by antisemitism.
According to the prosecution, Rodriguez went from Chicago to the Washington area before the Capital Jewish Museum event, carrying a weapon in his checked luggage, and the murder was premeditated and planned. Authorities have stated in court documents that he bought a ticket for the concert around three hours before to its commencement.
He was seen pacing outside before he approached a group of four individuals and started shooting, according to witnesses. As Lischinsky and Milgrim collapsed to the ground, Rodriguez moved closer to them, crouching over them and firing more shots, according to surveillance footage. According to officials, he seemed to reload before sprinting away.
Authorities claim that Rodriguez entered the museum after the shooting and admitted to carrying out the crime.
According to court documents, he said on the spur of the moment, “I am unarmed, I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.” Additionally, he described to detectives his admiration for an active-duty Air Force member who burned himself alive outside the Israeli Embassy in February 2024, calling the man brave and a martyr.
