Newly appointed interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro held a press conference Thursday afternoon to announce charges against 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez in the shooting deaths Wednesday night of two Israeli Embassy staffers, a couple who were soon to be engaged to be married, 30-year-old Yaron Lischinsky and 26-year-old Sarah Milgrim, as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in downtown D.C.
Rodriguez has been charged in federal court with two counts of first degree murder and felony charges of causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and murder of foreign officials. Pirro said Rodriguez was in court Thursday afternoon where he was informed by the judge he could face the death penalty. Pirro said more charges are possible with the investigation focusing on terrorism and hate crimes.
Elias Rodriguez, who shot two Israeli Embassy staffers outside Capital Jewish Museum, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and murder of foreign officials. pic.twitter.com/qA526BswFB
— Jerry Dunleavy IV (@JerryDunleavy) May 22, 2025
“These crimes are not going to be tolerated by me and by this office.”
Jeanine Pirro, interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, details the multiple charges facing the suspect in the shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers. https://t.co/S7zhpvUPCO pic.twitter.com/tsraWTKGEG
— ABC News (@ABC) May 22, 2025
The charging document says that surveillance camera videos show Rodriguez crossed the street to where the couple were waiting to cross the street, got behind them, then pulled out a handgun and opened fire on both. The document states Rodriguez kept firing at the couple after they collapsed on the ground, even as a wounded Sarah Milgrim tried to crawl away. Rodriguez reloaded while Milgrim sat up, then fired at her again. Twenty-one 9mm shell cases were reported found at the crime scene.
The newly filed charges filed against Elias Rodriguez expose the depravity and callousness of the murders. He didn’t just kill Sarah and Yaron- he made sure to finish them.
He followed Sarah as she crawled away in agony after he shot her. He followed her and shot her again. He… pic.twitter.com/T2gjBzlmKR
— Marina Medvin (@MarinaMedvin) May 22, 2025
Rodriguez said he “did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” and cried out “free, free Palestine.” He bought the gun in Chicago five years ago.
Rodriguez, according to court document,s “purchased the firearm on March 6, 2020, in the state of Illinois.”
He flew to D.C. from Chicago May 20th, officials said at the press conference moments ago he is believed to have traveled here for a conference related to his job.
— Beatrice Peterson (@MissBeaE on all platforms) (@MissBeaE) May 22, 2025
Officials said Rodriguez flew into D.C. from his home city of Chicago on Tuesday, apparently for a work related conference. They appealed for information by the public on his movements before the shooting Wednesday night.
Video of press conference:
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