The shooting occurred on Wednesday evening, May 21, 2025, at approximately 9:08 PM, as reported in an X post by @intelFromBrian. Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, both staff members of the Israeli Embassy, were attending a “Young Diplomats Reception” hosted by the American Jewish Committee at the Capital Jewish Museum. According to AP News, Rodriguez approached a group of four, opened fire, and continued shooting as the victims fell, appearing to reload before jogging away. Surveillance video captured the incident, and the prompt response led to Israeli missions beefing up security and lowering flags to half-staff.
The victims, described as a young couple in their late 20s or early 30s, were reportedly planning to get engaged on an upcoming trip to Jerusalem, adding a personal dimension to the tragedy. The Washington Post highlighted that Lischinsky loved photography, and Milgrim was an active member of her Jewish community, underscoring the human impact of the event.
Suspect Identification and Actions
Elias Rodriguez, 31, from Chicago, was identified as the lone suspect. According to AP News, he flew from Chicago to the Washington region on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, with a handgun in his checked luggage. He purchased a ticket to the event three hours before it started, indicating premeditation. After the shooting, Rodriguez entered the museum, where security guards stopped him. An X post by @stiwari1510 captured scenes of his arrest, including an officer seizing his red keffiyeh, a symbol often associated with Palestinian solidarity.
Rodriguez allegedly told police, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed,” as reported by AP News. During his arrest, he shouted “Free Palestine,” and later in custody, he expressed admiration for an active-duty Air Force member who self-immolated outside the Israeli Embassy in February 2024, calling him “courageous” and a “martyr.” The FBI is investigating writings purportedly by Rodriguez, which express outrage over Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war, contacting associates, family, and co-workers to build a profile of his motives.
Rodriguez faces federal and local charges, including murder of foreign officials, with the possibility of the death penalty, as per the U.S. Department of Justice. He did not enter a plea, and additional charges are likely, reflecting the severity of the case.
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the killings as both a hate crime against the Jewish community and an act of terrorism, as confirmed by multiple sources, including CNN and an X post by @intelFromBrian, which described it as an “act of terrorism and antisemitism.” Interim U.S. Attorney for D.C., Jeanine Pirro, stated, “Violence against anyone based on their religion is an act of cowardice. It is not an act of a hero,” and emphasized, “Antisemitism will not be tolerated, especially in the nation’s capital,” according to AP News.
The context for this classification includes heightened tensions due to Israel’s Gaza offensive
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