Suspect in D.C. Shooting of Israeli Diplomats Faces Federal Charges as Investigation Deepens

Washington, D.C. – Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old Chicago resident identified as the suspect in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum on May 21, 2025, remains in custody as federal authorities prepare to file charges. The attack, which killed Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, has been widely condemned as a possible act of antisemitic terrorism, prompting intense scrutiny of Rodriguez’s background and motives.

According to Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith, Rodriguez was observed pacing outside the museum before approaching a group of four people, opening fire with a handgun, and killing Lischinsky and Milgrim at close range. After the shooting, Rodriguez entered the museum, initially posing as a distressed bystander before admitting to security, “I did this,” and revealing the location of the discarded weapon, which was later recovered. While in custody, he repeatedly chanted “Free Palestine,” raising questions about the ideological motivations behind the attack.

Rodriguez, who had no prior criminal record or known contact with D.C. police, was not on law enforcement’s radar before the incident. On Thursday, May 22, FBI agents searched an apartment in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood believed to be linked to Rodriguez, with the street cordoned off and a heavy law enforcement presence reported. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation, focusing on whether the shooting was a hate crime or an act of terrorism. Authorities are analyzing Rodriguez’s social media, electronic devices, and writings to uncover potential motives.

Public records and a LinkedIn profile indicate Rodriguez worked as an administrative specialist at the American Osteopathic Information Association (AOIA) since July 2024. The AOIA and the American Osteopathic Association expressed shock, stating, “We were saddened to learn that an AOIA employee has been arrested as a suspect in this horrific crime.” Previously, Rodriguez was employed as an oral history researcher at The HistoryMakers, a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on African American stories, though a biography page has since been removed from their website.

Rodriguez’s past activism has also come under scrutiny. Social media accounts linked to him suggest heavy involvement in pro-Palestinian protests, and a 2017 article from Liberation News, the newspaper of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), described him as a protester at a Chicago demonstration against police brutality and gentrification. The PSL confirmed Rodriguez had a “brief association” with the group in 2017 but stated they had no contact with him in over seven years and do not support the shooting.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, visiting the scene on Thursday, vowed that Rodriguez “will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” with federal charges expected imminently. The investigation has heightened security concerns, with the New York Police Department deploying heavy weapons teams to Jewish institutions and Israeli diplomatic missions worldwide placed on high alert.

Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, have labeled the attack a result of “toxic antisemitic incitement,” while President Donald Trump condemned it as “obviously based on antisemitism” in a Truth Social post. The shooting has reignited debates over rising antisemitism and anti-Arab hate amid tensions over Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza.

As the investigation unfolds, Rodriguez remains in custody, with a court appearance scheduled for Thursday, May 22. Authorities have emphasized that he is believed to have acted alone, and there is no ongoing threat to the public.

17GEN4.com

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