Additional Charges Considered for Chicago Man in Israeli Embassy Shooting
Officials from the Justice Department are weighing the possibility of filing more charges against Elias Rodriguez, a Chicago resident alleged to have shot and killed two Israeli embassy employees on Wednesday night in Washington, D.C. Sources familiar with the case indicate that hate crime and terrorism charges are under consideration, with potential filings as soon as today.
The 31-year-old Rodriguez is already facing serious charges, including the murder of a foreign official and a federal capital offense, in addition to several firearm-related charges and two counts of first-degree murder. If found guilty of the first two charges, he could be sentenced to death. According to D.C. law, a conviction for first-degree murder mandates a minimum sentence of 30 years, with a possibility of life imprisonment.
Rodriguez has waived his right to a detention hearing and is currently held without bail while he awaits trial, scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 18.
The shooting occurred during an event organized by the American Jewish Committee, which was attended by Jewish experts and members of the diplomatic community. According to the affidavit, one of the victims, Yaron Lisinsky, 31, was an Israeli citizen recognized as an “official guest” by the U.S. State Department. The other victim, Sarah Milgrim, 26, also worked at the Israeli embassy and was reportedly about to get engaged.
Surveillance footage revealed that Rodriguez, wearing a blue hooded jacket and dark pants, approached the couple from behind. Investigators reported that he brandished a 9mm handgun and fired without provocation. According to the affidavit, after Lisinsky collapsed, Rodriguez continued shooting, even as Milgrim attempted to crawl away.
Witnesses noted that Rodriguez paused to reload before firing at Milgrim again and then fled toward the museum’s entrance. At the crime scene, authorities found 21 shell casings, empty handguns, and discarded magazines.
An initial autopsy indicated that Milgrim sustained multiple gunshot wounds; she was declared dead at the Chief Medical Examiner’s office shortly after 9:30 PM. Lisinsky was pronounced dead by emergency services at 9:14 PM, with autopsy results pending for both victims.
One witness, Katie Karisher, shared her experience from the night of the shooting, stating that she had spoken with Rodriguez before he was arrested. She described him as drenched from the rain and distressed, entering the museum after asking someone to call the police.
In a startling revelation, Karisher recounted that during their conversation, Rodriguez reached into his bag and claimed responsibility for the shooting, shouting, “Free Palestine!” before the police arrived and took him into custody. It’s a chilling moment that underscores the underlying tensions surrounding the incident.
