![Police cordon off Elias Rodriguez 's apartment in Chicago, Illinois, on May 22 [Erin Hooley/AP Photo]](https://truthsandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/AP25142575508388-1747949956.webp)
A man identified as Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, was arrested and charged after two young employees of the Israeli Embassy were shot dead outside the Capital Jewish Museum in downtown Washington DC on Wednesday evening. The victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were found unconscious at the scene shortly after 9:08 p.m. local time and later died from their wounds.
Horror Outside the Jewish Museum
Police say Rodriguez had been pacing near the museum entrance before drawing a handgun and opening fire on a group of four people leaving a diplomatic event. Witnesses report he shouted “free Palestine” as he was detained inside the museum. Some guests initially thought he was a distressed bystander and attempted to calm him.
Yoni Kalin, an attendee, described the confusion: “People were giving him water, trying to help. Little did we know he was someone who had just executed two people in cold blood.” Authorities are treating the incident as both a hate crime and an act of terrorism.
Victims’ Lives and Legacies
Yaron Lischinsky, 30, held dual German-Israeli citizenship and served as a research assistant at the embassy. Born in Germany, he moved to Israel as a teenager and later to Washington. According to friends and colleagues, he was a “devout Christian” who previously served in the Israeli military. Lischinsky had planned to propose to Milgrim in Jerusalem next week, Israel’s ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, revealed.
Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, hailed from Kansas and worked in the embassy’s public diplomacy department. Her father, Robert Milgrim, told CBS News his daughter “loved Israel” and counted both Palestinian and Israeli friends among her closest. The University of Kansas’s Hillel student organization called her “a beloved alum with a bright spirit.”
The Israeli Embassy issued a statement saying its staff were “heartbroken and devastated” by the attack.
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The Suspect: Elias Rodriguez
Rodriguez is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, murder of foreign officials, causing death with a firearm, and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence. He declared a legally purchased handgun at O’Hare Airport when flying from Chicago to DC on Tuesday. Authorities searched his Chicago residence Thursday, finding a photo of Wadee Alfayoumi, a Palestinian-American child murdered in 2023.
Neighbors recall Rodriguez’s political fervor: a pro-Palestinian social media presence and past ties to a fringe communist group. He worked at the American Osteopathic Information Association since 2024. FBI and Metropolitan Police continue their investigation; more charges may follow. A preliminary hearing is set for June 18, and prosecutors are considering the death penalty.
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Event and Context
The shooting occurred as Lischinsky and Milgrim left an American Jewish Committee networking event aimed at young Jewish professionals and diplomats. The theme, “Turning Pain Into Purpose,” focused on humanitarian aid in the Middle East. Access was restricted to registered guests, underscoring the sense of safety shattered by the violence.
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Community and Political Reactions
President Donald Trump condemned the attack as antisemitic on his Truth Social platform: “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, now! Hatred and radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims.”
Local leaders and the Israeli Embassy praised law enforcement for a swift arrest but warned of the need to address rising threats against Jewish and Israeli targets. US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed Rodriguez acted alone.
Washington DC and Beyond
This DC shooting near major tourist and government sites has rattled a city still on edge after recent violence. The Capital Jewish Museum reopens with added security measures, while community vigils honor the victims’ memories. As investigations continue, officials are urging vigilance and unity against hate-fueled violence.
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