The Justice Department will pursue the death penalty for a man charged with fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staff members outside a Jewish museum in Washington, prosecutors announced in a court filing on Friday.
Charges and Allegations
Elias Rodriguez faces federal hate crime and murder charges in the deaths of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. The couple was leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum last May when Rodriguez opened fire, shouting “Free Palestine” during the attack. He later told police, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” according to the indictment.
The charges include a hate crime resulting in death, and the indictment contains special findings that allow prosecutors to seek capital punishment.
Prosecutor's Statement
“My message to anyone who seeks to commit political violence in this district -- D.C. is not the place. You will be held accountable and you will face the full wrath of the law,” said Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, at a news conference on Friday where she revealed the decision.
Motivation and Planning
Prosecutors must prove that Rodriguez was motivated by antisemitism. They described the killings as calculated and planned, noting that Rodriguez flew from Chicago to Washington with a handgun in his checked luggage ahead of the May 21 event.
Witnesses reported seeing him pacing outside before approaching a group of four people and opening fire. Surveillance footage showed Rodriguez advancing closer to Lischinsky and Milgrim as they fell, leaning over them to fire additional shots. He appeared to reload before jogging away.
Aftermath
After the shooting, Rodriguez entered the museum and said, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed,” according to court documents. He also told detectives he admired an active-duty Air Force member who set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in February 2024, calling the man “courageous” and a “martyr.”
In Friday's filing, prosecutors stated that Rodriguez's actions were “motivated by political, ideological, national, and religious bias, contempt, and hatred.” He “targeted individuals whom he perceived to have attended an event for young Jewish professionals, organized by the American Jewish Committee and hosted at the Capital Jewish Museum, to amplify the effect of his crimes.”
Legal Proceedings
Attorneys for Rodriguez did not respond to a request for comment. Several weeks before the announcement, defense attorneys met with Justice Department officials to present evidence against seeking the death penalty.
Rodriguez's next court appearance is scheduled for June 30. A trial date has not yet been set.
