The suspect in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staff members was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in a swift reaction to an apparent antisemitic attack outside the Capital Jewish Museumin Washington, D.C., about a mile from the White House.
Jeanine Pirro, the interim U.S. Attorney for D.C., said Elias Rodriguez, 31, is also facing several firearms charges and counts of killing foreign officials. Pirro said the attack on May 21 is being investigated as a hate and terrorism crime.
"This charging today is the initial charge,'' Pirro said in an afternoon news conference on Thursday. "Remember, we're less than 24 hours from the crime itself. ... This is the start.''
She also said authorities may pursue the death penalty if Rodriguez is convicted. Rodriguez chanted, "Free Palestine, free Palestine," after being taken into custody by event security after the shooting.
Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and his girlfriend Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, were shot at about 9 p.m. as they exited the museum after a Young Diplomats reception hosted by the American Jewish Committee. The couple was about to get engaged.
Developments:
∎ Rodriguez was once affiliated with a far-left group in Chicago, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, according to a post from the group on X.
∎ Israeli embassies around the world immediately stepped up security, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he discussed the shooting Thursday with President Donald Trump.
Affidavit: Gunman kept shooting at victims on the ground
The charging affidavit provided disturbing details of the assault that point strongly toward Rodriguez's culpability.
The affidavit says Rodriguez asked to speak to one of the police officers responding to the incident and said, "I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza. I am unarmed.''
Video footage from the scene showed Rodriguez firing several times at the victims, then firing several more rounds at them after they fell to the ground and after Milgrim tried to crawl away and sat up, according to an FBI affidavit in the criminal complaint.
The document also says Rodriguez flew from Chicago to Washington the day before the attack, bringing a gun in his checked luggage, and bought a ticket to the museum three hours before the night's event began.
"Violence against anyone based on their religion is an act of cowardice. It is not an act of a hero," Pirro said. "It is the kind of case we will vigorously pursue."
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino posted on social media that investigators were "aware of certain writings allegedly authored by thesuspect" and hoped to soon have updates regarding their authenticity.
Jewish organization head decries 'shocking act of violence'
The head of the Jewish organization that hosted the event described the tragedy as a "shocking act of violence" and said members of the Jewish community were "holding each other tighter tonight."
In a statement on May 22, American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch thanked Trump, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, and law enforcement for their swift action and support.
"It strongly appears that this was an attack motivated by hate against the Jewish people and the Jewish state," Deutch said. "This senseless hate and violence must stop."
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said investigators believe Rodriguez was the lone gunman in the assault. Rodriguez lives in Chicago, and FBI agents were seen at his apartment on Thursday.
People inside were unaware the suspect was among them
Katie Kalisher, a 29-year-old jewelry designer, said she was among a group talking with a man who came into the museum looking scared after gunshots were heard outside. Then he suddenly pulled out a keffiyeh, which has become a symbol of Palestinian support.
"He says, 'I did it. I did it for Gaza, free, free Palestine.' And he's chanting this,'' Kalisher said. "And then suddenly the police come in and they arrest him."
Yoni Kalin, whose wife was an organizer of the event, told NewsNation Live he was in the museum when he heard 10 to 15 gunshots outside. Kalin said several people came into the building, including Rodriguez, but no one realized he was the suspect.
"This man clearly looked distraught. He was in a state of shock," Kalin said, adding that people sat Rodriguez down, asked him if he had been shot, and gave him some water.
"Little did we know, he was the shooter," Kalin said. "It's completely unacceptable that somebody could be radicalized to this extent, to come into a Jewish museum, pretend that he's one of us, and then admit to murdering somebody and be gleeful about it. I mean, it's just disgusting."
Milgrim's wit, smarts, maturity were her 'powerful armor'
Milgrim dedicated her efforts to fighting antisemitism, so it was an especially cruel twist that she lost her life at 26 to an act of hatred against Jews, a friend said.
Her friend, Ayelet Razin, said Milgrim's sudden and tragic death has left her not only in grief but also increasingly alarmed and angry about antisemitism.
Speaking to USA TODAY via Zoom from Israel, Razin called Milgrim "a light and an enlightened person," someone whose presence could instantly lift the people around her.
"That was her most powerful armor: her wit, her intelligence, and her maturity," Razin said.
Politicians unite in condemning attack
Republican and Democratic lawmakers, including members of Congress and mayors, condemned the shooting.
"As we await additional details, it is clear that too many of our Jewish brothers and sisters legitimately fear for their safety in this country simply as a result of their faith," said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY. "Antisemitism has no place in our nation, and its rise must be urgently crushed by people of goodwill across America and throughout the world."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said he’s grateful the suspect is in custody, but that it may be little comfort to those whose sense of safety has been shattered. "To the Jewish and Israeli community. know that we stand with you," he added.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors also denounced the attack, saying in a statement: "We agree with Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser’s statement last night − we will not tolerate such violence or hate in our cities; we will not tolerate such acts of terrorism; and we will not tolerate antisemitism."
− Deborah Barfield Berry
Museum preparing to reopen with more security
Dr. Beatrice Gurwitz, executive director of the museum, said her staff was heartbroken by the shootings.
"In an act of horrific antisemitic violence, a gunman attacked our beloved community," Gurwitz said in a statement. "This tragedy is devastating. Such acts of terror attempt to instill fear, silence voices, and erase history − but we refuse to let them succeed."
Gurwitz said the museum shares Jewish stories to build bridges and prompt dialogue. She said she and her staff were working to re-open the museum in the coming days "with all necessary security in place so the museum can return to telling the story of Jewish Washington for thousands of visitors from around the world.”
Shooting has the FBI's 'full attention'
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Rodriguez was interviewed by FBI agents and local police. "Last night’s act of terror has the full attention of your FBI. Targeted acts of antisemitic violence are typically carried out by spineless, gutless cowards," Bongino said. "And the penalties will be harsh as we tighten up this investigation and run down any additional leads."
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who is Jewish, said the "scourge of antisemitism reared its ugly head yet again," this time just a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol.
"Such a blatant and targeted act of antisemitism, right here in the nation’s capital, should outrage everybody," Schumer said in a statement.
Milgrim's high school was once vandalized with swastikas
Milgrim grew up in Johnson County, Kansas, and attended Shawnee Mission East High School.
KSHB 41 News spoke with her in a 2017 story when the school was vandalized with graffiti, swastikas, and vulgar words splashed on a building.
"It’s so ignorant that you would bring up a symbol like that, that would bring so much pain to people," said Milgrim, then a senior. "I worry about going to my synagogue and now I have to worry about my safety at my school. And that shouldn’t be a thing."
Orthodox Union blames effort to 'demonize the Jewish state'
Rabbi Moshe Hauer is the executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, the nation's largest umbrella group of Orthodox Jews. Hauer, in an email to USA TODAY, said Milgrim was an alumna of the Jewish Student Union at her Kansas high school.The Jewish Student Union is part of the Orthodox Union.
"The brazen demands for an end to the Jewish State and the globalization of the intifada have always been a call to violence.The call was answered," Hauer said in a statement. "These antisemitic murders committed in our nation’s capital are a direct result of the organized and effective effort to demonize the Jewish state and to build hatred and encourage violence towards anyone associated with Israel."
Victims advocated for peace between Israelis, Palestinians
The victims, Lischinsky and Milgrim, were locally employed staff, the Israeli foreign ministry said. Both were trying to promote reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians, according to advocacy groups with which they were involved.
Tech2Peace, an advocacy promoting dialogue between young Palestinians and Israelis, said of Milgrim in a social media post: "Her energy, thoughtfulness, and unwavering belief in dialogue, peace, and equality inspired everyone who had the privilege to work alongside her."
Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the U.S., said Lischinsky had bought an engagement ring and had planned on proposing to Milgrim in Jerusalem next week. The embassy posted a photo of Lischinsky and Milgrim on social media.
Lischinsky, a citizen of Israel who advocated ending the bloodshed in the Middle East, grew up in Bavaria and spoke fluent German, the German-Israeli Society said.
"Yaron and Sarah were our friends and colleagues. They were in the prime of their lives," the post said. "The entire embassy staff is heartbroken and devastated by their murder. No words can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss.''
City was providing museum with grant for security
The shooting came less than a week after Bowser announced the museum was one of 11 local nonprofits awarded funding to enhance security from a $500,000 grant program.The Safe and Secure DC Grant funds targeted nonprofit organizations with "heightened safety concerns."
Gurwitz, the museum's executive director, told local News4 last week that the museum faced serious security concerns.
"Jewish institutions all around town, all around the country, are concerned about security due tosome very scary incidents that some institutions have faced and because of a climate of antisemitism," Gurwitz said. "So we invest a lot of money in security to make sure that we can keep our doors open to the broad public, that this is a welcoming space, but that people are also safe in this space."
Who is Elias Rodriguez?
Smith said Rodriguez opened fire on four people outside the museum before entering and being detained by security at the event. After he was handcuffed, Rodriguez "implied that he committed the offense," Smith said.
Rodriguez also told authorities where he discarded the weapon, which was later recovered, she said.
ALinkedInprofile appearing to belong to Rodriguez shows he lives in Chicago and works for the Chicago-based American Osteopathic Information Association as a profiles administration specialist.
The LinkedIn profile says Rodriguez previously worked as a production and logistics coordinator and an oral history researcher at the History Makers, a nonprofit in Illinois that says it documents and preserves the histories of Black Americans. Read more here.
− Jeanine Santucci
Capital Jewish Museum officials 'saddened and horrified'
The Capital Jewish Museum describes itself as a history museum and "public-facing educational institution" committed to building an inclusive, multi-racial democracy, teaching "difficult" histories, and fostering an anti-racist society.
The museum says on its website that it "explores the Jewish experience in the national capital region and inspires visitors to connect, reflect, and act."
Museum officials issued a statement, saying that they were "deeply saddened and horrified by the senseless violence outside the Museum this evening. Our condolences and heartfelt sympathies go to the victims and their families."
Holocaust Museum cites 'worldwide eruption of antisemitism'
The U.S Holocaust Memorial Museum, less than three miles from the Capital Jewish Museum, issued a statement hours after the shooting.
"The murder of Israeli Embassy staff outside the Capital Jewish Museum is a horrific act of antisemitic terrorism amid a worldwide eruption of antisemitism," the statement said. "Everyone should be outraged. Our thoughts are with the victims’ families and colleagues."
Trump calls for end to antisemitism
The shooting comes as Israel faces mounting international pressure over its blockade on humanitarian deliveries to Gaza. The blockade was imposed in March, shortly before the end of a two-month-old ceasefire, and has prompted aid agencies to warn of impending famine.
Trump, who has pressed for a deal that would allow aid to flow into the enclave, has remained a firm supporter of Israel.
"These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!" Trump said in a social media post after the shootings. "Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!"
Contributing: Reuters
(This story was updated to add new information.)
