Federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Elias Rodriguez in the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy employees in Washington, D.C.
Rodriguez, 31, faces multiple charges, including murder, hate crimes and terrorism-related offenses in connection with the May 2025 attack outside the Capital Jewish Museum.
Victims Were Israeli Embassy Employees
The victims were identified as:
- Yaron Lischinsky
- Sarah Milgrim
Authorities said the couple had planned to become engaged before they were shot and killed while leaving an event at the museum.
According to investigators, Rodriguez allegedly shouted “Free Palestine” during the attack and later told police he carried out the shooting “for Palestine.”
Terrorism and Hate Crime Charges
Jeanine Pirro said in court filings that the nature of the killings justifies pursuing capital punishment if Rodriguez is convicted.
Federal prosecutors initially charged Rodriguez with murder and hate crimes before adding terrorism charges in a superseding indictment earlier this year.
Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, was working for the Israeli government on official business in the United States at the time of the shooting. Milgrim, a U.S. citizen from Kansas, also worked for the Israeli Embassy.
Rodriguez has pleaded not guilty, and a trial date has not yet been announced.
The shooting intensified concerns about rising antisemitic violence and political extremism in the United States following tensions linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
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