The suspect within the deadly capturing of two Israeli Embassy staff exterior the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night time has been recognized as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago.
Rodriguez allegedly shot and killed the victims — a pair about to develop into engaged, in response to Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S.— as they have been leaving the museum, which is positioned within the coronary heart of the U.S. capital.
Israel’s international ministry recognized the victims as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. The lady was an American and the person was Israeli, former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Mike Herzog informed Israeli Military Radio, in response to The Related Press. Leiter stated they have been “gunned down … in the name of Free Palestine.”
Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith stated authorities consider the capturing was dedicated by a single suspect who’s now in custody.
What we all know concerning the suspect
“The suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered,” Smith stated, including that he “implied that he committed the offense.”
The suspect chanted “free, free Palestine” whereas he was being arrested, video confirmed.
“Early indicators are that this is an act of targeted violence,” Dan Bongino, deputy director of the FBI, stated in a submit on social media, including that the suspect was being interviewed by D.C. police along side the FBI.
The suspect didn’t seem in an preliminary search of crime databases and wasn’t on regulation enforcements’ radar, Metropolitan Police stated. No particulars on the gun buy or legality of the weapon have been referred to as of early Thursday morning.
The victims
Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., stated Lischinsky purchased a hoop this week “with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem.”
“They were a beautiful couple who came to enjoy an evening in Washington’s cultural center,” he stated.
The Israeli Embassy posted a photograph of the 2 victims of the capturing exterior the Jewish Capital Museum in Washington, D.C. on the night time of Might 21, 2025. Sarah Lynn Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky have been staff on the embassy.
IsraelinUSA/Twitter/Anadolu by way of Getty Photos
Israel’s Embassy stated in a submit on X “they were in the prime of their lives,” calling them “our friends and colleagues.”
“The entire embassy staff is heartbroken and devastated by their murder,” it stated. “No words can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss.”
Mr. Trump wrote on Reality Social: “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!”
Faris Tanyos,
Kierra Frazier,
Pat Milton and
Andres Triay
contributed to this report.
