Chicago Man Charged in Fatal Shooting of Israeli Embassy Staffers Cites Palestinian Cause in Court

Washington, D.C. – A 31-year-old Chicago man, Elias Rodriguez, accused of fatally shooting two Israeli embassy employees outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C., declared in court that his actions were motivated by support for Palestine and Gaza. Rodriguez allegedly shouted “Free Palestine” and stated, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed,” as authorities apprehended him following the attack. The victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, both employed by the Israeli embassy, were gunned down as they left an annual Young Diplomats reception at the Capital Jewish Museum.

Court documents reveal that Rodriguez faces charges, including the murder of foreign officials. An FBI affidavit detailed that he traveled from Chicago to Washington on Tuesday, carrying a handgun in his checked luggage, and purchased a ticket to the museum event hours before it began. The affidavit further noted that Rodriguez expressed admiration for a U.S. Air Force member who self-immolated outside the Israeli embassy in February 2024, describing the act as “courageous” and the individual as a “martyr.”

The incident has heightened security concerns, prompting Israeli missions worldwide to enhance their protective measures and lower flags to half-staff. Authorities are investigating the killings as a potential hate crime and act of terrorism, with the FBI working to verify a document circulating online, purportedly written by Rodriguez, which condemned Israel’s actions in the Gaza conflict.

Rodriguez appeared in federal court in Washington, where he listened impassively as charges carrying potential death penalty consequences were read. At a residence linked to Rodriguez’s mother in suburban Chicago, a sign requesting privacy was displayed.