On May 21, 2025, Elias Rodriguez, a 31-year-old from Chicago, was charged with the murders of two Israeli embassy staffers—Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim—outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. Rodriguez reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” as he was taken into custody and told police, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.”
The victims, Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, and Milgrim, an American, were a couple planning to marry. They were attending a social event hosted by the American Jewish Committee when the attack occurred. Rodriguez allegedly approached them from behind and fired 21 rounds, continuing to shoot after they were on the ground.
Rodriguez has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and murder of foreign officials. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. Authorities are investigating the incident as an act of terrorism and a hate crime. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 18.
Further investigations revealed that Rodriguez had no prior criminal record but had been active in left-wing protest circles and vocal about the Gaza conflict on social media. He reportedly expressed admiration for radical actions and figures, including a protester who self-immolated in 2024.
The attack has heightened concerns over domestic threats linked to international conflicts, particularly as tensions in the Middle East continue.