Last night, Wednesday (local time), a man fatally shot two employees of the Israeli Embassy outside the Jewish Museum in Washington, where an event was taking place. The assailant shouted pro-Palestinian slogans during his arrest, prompting Donald Trump to denounce the act as antisemitic.
“Two staff members of the Israeli Embassy were senselessly killed near the Jewish Museum in Washington. Investigations are currently underway,” stated Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem via social media.
The FBI and the Department of Justice confirmed the victims were a young couple, identified later as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrom, who were planning to get engaged.
“Yaron and Sarah were our friends and colleagues,” the Embassy posted. “They were in the prime of their lives. Tragically, a terrorist shot and killed them as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. The entire staff is devastated and heartbroken over this loss. Our thoughts are with their families, and we will support them during this horrific time,” the message read.
“Free, Free Palestine,” the attacker shouted during his arrest.
Local police confirmed that the suspect entered the building following the shooting and was apprehended.
“Before the shooting, the suspect was seen pacing outside the museum. He approached a group of four people, drew a handgun, and opened fire,” Washington Police Chief Pamela Smith informed reporters.
“We believe there was only one shooter, and he has been arrested,” she continued. She also mentioned that the suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez, shouted “Free, free Palestine.”
Video circulating on social media shows a bearded man in glasses, wearing a jacket and white shirt, being arrested without resistance. Before entering the building, he turned to bystanders and the camera, shouting “Free Palestine” twice.
Who is Elias Rodriguez?
According to police reports, the arrestee is Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old originally from Chicago.
Rodriguez appears to have been affiliated with a radical left-wing organization supporting the Palestinian cause, as reported by The Times of Israel.
His LinkedIn profile indicates that he had been working with the American Osteopathic Association in Chicago since 2024. Previously, he served as a researcher for The HistoryMakers, an online archive dedicated to African American oral histories founded by Carnegie Mellon University. A profile on their site states that Rodriguez was born and raised in Chicago and enjoys reading, writing fiction, music, cinema, and exploring new environments. He resides in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago and is a graduate of the University of Illinois.
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