A 31-year-old man named Elias Rodriguez, a Chicago English major, reportedly made inflammatory social media posts such as “Free Palestine” and described his support for Hamas. This follows a troubling incident where he allegedly shot two individuals, Jaron Lisinski and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, after they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum.
Law enforcement officials are working to verify his identity as a potential terrorist, with a focus on his online activity. Some of his posts glorified political violence and included alarming messages—one post echoed “Happy New Year. Death to Israel,” which he shared under the handle @KyotoLeather.
In the weeks following his earlier posts, he allegedly wrote “De@Th 2 Amerikkka” and, notably, took to social media the day after the 2024 elections to claim, “Don’t blame me, I voted for Hamas.” There’s also a troubling tendency in his posts to praise the actions of another individual, Luigi Mangione, who is facing murder charges.
Authorities are examining the credibility of an anti-Israel manifesto that surfaced around the same time as the shootings. They are also sifting through the electronic devices linked to Rodriguez and others involved in the anti-Israel rhetoric, trying to piece together further connections and motives.
Dan Bongino, a deputy director of the FBI, mentioned they are looking into works allegedly authored by Rodriguez. He indicated that updates on the investigation may be forthcoming, but that they must proceed carefully as they gather more information.
Witnesses noted that Rodriguez was seen near the museum just prior to the gunfire. When police arrived, he allegedly brandished a red kefir and shouted “Free Palestine” multiple times. After being apprehended, he indicated where he had left the weapon, suggesting his involvement in the crime. This incident raises numerous questions about motivations and the kind of ideologies that can lead to such extreme actions.
