U.S. Man Indicted for Hate Crime in Killing of Israeli Embassy Staffers
A Chicago man has been indicted for hate crimes and murder in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, in what prosecutors describe as a premeditated and politically motivated attack.
Elias Rodriguez was indicted on federal charges for the killing of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C. Photo: @WISCTV_News3
August 7, 2025 Hour: 7:04 am
A Chicago resident has been indicted on federal hate crime and murder charges for the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C., in a case prosecutors say was premeditated and driven by anti-Semitic motives.
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Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that Elias Rodriguez, 30, faces nine charges, including a hate crime resulting in death, for the killing of Israeli embassy staff members Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. The couple was gunned down in May outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington after attending an event organized by the American Jewish Committee.
Surveillance footage reportedly shows Rodriguez waiting outside the museum before approaching the couple and opening fire. As they fell, he allegedly fired additional rounds and appeared to reload before fleeing the scene. Two other individuals who were with the victims were not harmed.
Rodriguez later entered the museum and admitted to the killings. According to federal authorities, he shouted “Free Palestine” while being detained and told police, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.”
Prosecutors allege the attack was carefully planned. Rodriguez had flown to Washington from Chicago with a handgun packed in checked luggage and purchased a ticket to the event just hours before the shooting. A notice of special findings included in the indictment opens the door for the Department of Justice to consider seeking the death penalty.
Lischinsky, a German-Israeli dual national, worked as a research assistant at the embassy. Milgrim, a U.S. citizen, coordinated diplomatic trips to Israel. Reports indicate the two were preparing to get engaged.
The indictment comes as President Donald Trump renewed calls for stronger federal control over Washington’s public safety. Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump described the capital as “very unsafe” and suggested deploying the National Guard to “beautify the city” and reduce crime.
“We’re not going to let it [continue],” Trump said. “And that includes bringing in the National Guard, maybe very quickly, too.”
Trump’s remarks followed reports that a staff member from the Department of Government Efficiency was assaulted during a carjacking over the weekend. However, official data from the D.C. Metropolitan Police indicate that violent crime in the city fell by 26 percent in the first seven months of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Overall reported crime is down 7 percent.
As legal proceedings move forward, federal prosecutors must demonstrate that Rodriguez was motivated by anti-Semitic intent. The case has drawn national attention for its political and diplomatic implications, and it adds to ongoing debates over public safety, hate crimes, and the role of federal intervention in U.S. cities.
Author: MK
Source: AP - Al Jazeera