Washington (AP) – The accused man Kills two staff members The Israeli embassy, located outside the Jewish Museum in Washington, is charged with federal hate crimes and murder, according to unsealed court documents on Wednesday.
The indictment, filed in Washington federal court, charged Elias Rodriguez with nine counts, including death-related hate crimes. The indictment also includes a notice of special findings that the Department of Justice may pursue the death penalty.
Elias Rodriguez is accused of shelling Jaron Lisinski and Sarah Milgrim when he left the event at the museum in May. He heard him scream “Free Palestine” when he was kicked out after his arrest. He told police, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” federal authorities told police.
Rodriguez had previously been charged with murdering foreign officials and other crimes, and accusations of hate crimes were added after prosecutors filed a lawsuit in a major ju trial. It means that Rodriguez is tasked with proving that he was motivated by anti-Semitism, and is motivated by anti-Semitism when he fires fire on young couples, Lisinski and Milgrim, whom he was about to engage in.
Flowers and memorabilia are left by visitors outside the capital Jewish Museum after an event at the Washington museum on Thursday, May 29, 2025. After two Israeli embassy staff were murdered. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, file)
Prosecutors explained that he was planning the murder as a calculation, and Rodriguez said he flew from Chicago to the Washington area prior to an event at the Capital Jewish Museum, and there was a handgun in his checked baggage. He purchased tickets for the event about three hours before the event began, authorities said in court documents.
Rodriguez’s attorney did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday.
Witnesses said he approached a group of four and roamed outside before firing. Surveillance video showed Rodriguez approaching Lisinski and Milgrim and falling to the ground, leaning against them and firing additional shots. He appeared to reload before jogging, officials said.
After the shooting, authorities say Rodriguez entered the museum and said he “did it.”
“I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I’m not armed,” he said voluntarily, according to court documents. He also told the detectives what he praised. Active Air Force Members He burned himself outside the Israeli Embassy in February 2024, describing the man as “courageous” and “martist.”
