Washington, D.C. — A man accused of fatally shooting two staff members of the Israeli Embassy outside a Jewish museum in May has now been indicted on federal hate crime charges, according to court documents unsealed Wednesday.
Elias Rodriguez Faces Nine-Count Federal Indictment
Elias Rodriguez has been charged with nine federal counts, including a hate crime resulting in death, as detailed in a new federal indictment filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The charges follow his earlier indictment for the murder of foreign officials, but now add the layer of proving antisemitic motivation behind the killings.
The indictment includes “notice of special findings,” which would allow the Justice Department to consider pursuing the death penalty, according to NBC News.
Rodriguez is accused of killing Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, both staffers with the Israeli Embassy, as they were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum.
“I Did It for Palestine, I Did It for Gaza”
Immediately after the attack, Rodriguez was reportedly heard yelling, “Free Palestine,” and later told detectives, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.” According to court documents, he also admitted his admiration for Aaron Bushnell, an Air Force service member who set himself on fire in front of the Israeli Embassy earlier this year in protest of U.S. policy toward Gaza.
“I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed,” Rodriguez said upon entering the museum following the shooting, as quoted in the court filings.
Rodriguez also reportedly referred to Bushnell as “courageous” and “a martyr.”
Killings Were Calculated and Targeted, Prosecutors Say
As per Reports, Rodriguez flew from Chicago to Washington, D.C. in May, bringing a handgun in his checked luggage. He purchased a ticket for the event at the museum roughly three hours before it began, signaling a degree of premeditation.
Witnesses and surveillance video depict a harrowing scene:
- Rodriguez was seen pacing outside the venue before the attack.
- He then approached a group and opened fire, targeting Lischinsky and Milgrim specifically.
- He advanced toward their fallen bodies, fired again at close range, and then appeared to reload his weapon before jogging away.
Prosecutors Aim to Prove Antisemitic Intent
To convict Rodriguez under the federal hate crime statute, prosecutors will need to demonstrate that the attack was motivated by antisemitism, not just by political views related to the Israel–Palestine conflict.
“The victims, a young couple on the verge of engagement, were targeted because of their national origin and identity,” a federal official said, as reported by NBC News.
The case is expected to draw national attention as it raises questions about politically motivated violence, the scope of federal hate crime laws, and the security of foreign diplomats and embassy personnel on U.S. soil.
What are your thoughts on this case? Should hate crime charges carry the death penalty? Let us know in the comments.
