Two Israeli embassy staffers were gunned down in what officials call an antisemitic attack outside DC’s Capital Jewish Museum, with the gunman allegedly chanting “Free Palestine” before federal authorities swiftly filed murder charges.
At a Glance
- Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, two Israeli Embassy staff members, were shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.
- Suspect Elias Rodriguez, 30, from Chicago, has been charged with federal murder of foreign officials and first-degree murder under D.C. criminal code
- Officials confirmed the attack was targeted and antisemitic, with the suspect reportedly chanting “Free, free Palestine”
- The victims were a young couple with plans to get engaged
- President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and senior U.S. officials have strongly condemned the attack
Deadly Attack on Israeli Diplomats
The shooting occurred on May 21, 2025, following the American Jewish Committee’s annual Young Diplomats reception at the Capital Jewish Museum. According to federal authorities, Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, targeted and killed two Israeli embassy staffers, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith reported that Rodriguez was heard chanting “Free, free Palestine” at the scene. Surveillance footage captured Rodriguez firing multiple rounds at the victims before entering the museum, where he was subsequently apprehended by law enforcement.
Investigators recovered a 9mm handgun and 21 spent shell casings at the scene. Rodriguez had traveled from Chicago to Washington with the firearm legally declared in his checked luggage, suggesting premeditation. The attack comes amid heightened tensions related to Israel’s offensive in Gaza, with authorities noting that Israeli diplomats have historically been targets of violence stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
NEW: Sen. Bernie Moreno has written to Attorney General Pam Bondi and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser urging law enforcement to investigate the murder of two Israeli embassy staffers in DC last night as an act of domestic terrorism.
"In light of this horrific attack, I respectfully… pic.twitter.com/2N4sjetYVi
— Emily Jacobs (@emilyfjacobs) May 22, 2025
Federal Charges and Official Response
Federal authorities moved quickly to file serious charges against Rodriguez. He faces multiple counts in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, including murder of foreign officials, along with two counts of first-degree murder under the D.C. criminal code. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, FBI Assistant Director Steven J. Jensen, and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith during a joint press conference.
“This brutal, anti-Semitic violence has no place in our country or anywhere in civilization,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will follow the facts and secure the most severe possible punishment for the perpetrator of this heinous crime, which robbed two wonderful young people of a bright future together.”
FBI Assistant Director Jensen confirmed the targeted and antisemitic nature of the attack. Chief of Police Pamela A. Smith announced increased police presence around religious institutions to reassure the community. The Capital Jewish Museum had recently received funding to enhance security measures, making the successful attack all the more concerning for Jewish organizations across the nation.
SUSPECT IN CUSTODY: A tragic shooting occurred Wednesday night outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., claiming the lives of two Israeli Embassy employees, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. The suspect, 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, was taken into… https://t.co/LmtEuSWX6K pic.twitter.com/bs9NHZ3Yyk
— Melissa Hallman (@dotconnectinga) May 22, 2025
National Leaders Condemn Attack
The violent incident prompted immediate condemnation from national and international leaders. President Donald Trump issued a strong statement denouncing the attack. “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA,” the President declared. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu similarly condemned the violence, connecting it to broader antisemitic trends.
“We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and wild incitement against Israel,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to addressing such violence. “Let me be clear: hateful violence against Jewish Americans will be met with the full force of the Justice Department. We are expanding enforcement, increasing our outreach, and holding perpetrators accountable wherever they act,” Dhillon stated. The victims’ status as a young couple with engagement plans has added to the tragedy, with the Jewish community across the nation expressing profound grief and solidarity.
