Two young staffers from the Israeli embassy were brutally murdered by gunfire outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening. Authorities have identified the assailant as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, Illinois, who is suspected of carrying out the attack with pro-Palestinian motivations.
National Review reports that according to police, Rodriguez shouted “Free, free Palestine” during his arrest. Witnesses said he had been seen pacing outside the museum shortly before opening fire on a group of four people. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith confirmed that the suspect used a handgun in the attack, then discarded the weapon and entered the building, where he was apprehended by security personnel.
The victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were romantically involved and reportedly close to getting engaged. They had been attending an American Jewish Committee Young Diplomats event earlier that evening, a gathering focused on addressing the humanitarian issues in Israel and Gaza.
Video footage taken by bystanders showed Rodriguez chanting “free Palestine” as he was taken into custody.
Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. described the victims as a couple on the brink of engagement. “The couple that was gunned down tonight in the name of Free Palestine was a young couple about to be engaged,” Ambassador Michael Leiter stated. “The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem. They were a beautiful couple who came to enjoy an evening in Washington’s cultural center.”
Lischinsky served in the political department of the Israeli embassy. Originally from Nuremberg, Germany, he had converted from Christianity and immigrated to Israel as a teenager, later serving in the Israel Defense Forces. Ambassador of Israel to Germany Ron Prosor remarked that Lischinsky “embodied the Judeo-Christian values and set an example for young people worldwide.”
“This didn’t happen in a warzone,” Prosor added. “It happened in the capital of the free world, in the heart of Washington, D.C. Chanting ‘Free Palestine’ is not just a slogan, it’s a call to action to target Jews wherever they are.”
Milgrim worked in the embassy’s public diplomacy division. She held advanced degrees from American University in Washington, D.C., and from the United Nations University for Peace. Her LinkedIn profile highlighted her commitment to peacebuilding, religious engagement, and environmental issues.
“While working with Tech2Peace in Tel Aviv, Israel, I conducted comprehensive research on peace building theory, emphasizing grassroots initiatives in the Israeli-Palestinian region,” her profile read. “My diverse experiences, including facilitating insightful discussions on geopolitics in Israel and Palestine as a Jewish Educator, and researching an array of environmental topics in India and Central America, reflecting my commitment to fostering understanding between different peoples.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi, who arrived at the scene following the shooting, confirmed that U.S. Attorney for the District of Washington Jeanine Pirro would lead the prosecution of the suspect. Former President Donald Trump issued a strong condemnation of the attack, describing it as fueled by antisemitism.
“Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA,” Trump said via social media. “Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen!”
Public records and professional profiles linked to the suspect indicate that Rodriguez worked as a priorities administrative specialist at the American Osteopathic Association. He previously held a researcher position at The HistoryMakers, a nonprofit organization focused on preserving the oral histories of African Americans.
A now-deleted biography on The HistoryMakers’ website stated that Rodriguez was “born and raised in Chicago, Illinois,” and earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Chicago.
