Witnesses to a tragic incident involving two young Israeli diplomats in Washington, D.C., mistakenly provided assistance to a man believed to be involved in their murder, thinking he was just another victim caught in a terrible moment.
The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, 31, was spotted loitering near the Jewish Museum after the brutal double homicide. Bystanders rushed to help him, unaware he was the alleged shooter.
“He looked disoriented. Dressed in a suit with glasses, his hair was dark. It seemed like he was in shock,” one witness recounted. “We thought he was just another bystander trying to help.”
Rodriguez allegedly confessed, saying, “I did this for Gaza,” shortly after police arrived on the scene. He reportedly shouted phrases like “Free Palestine.”
One bystander shared that they didn’t comprehend initially that Rodriguez was involved in the shooting; they assumed he was a protester.
The victims, Yaron Lisinski, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, were fatally shot shortly after leaving a gathering of young diplomats at the American Jewish Commission. Their connection, which began at the Israeli Embassy, was tragically severed by the violence.
After hearing gunshots, a witness described seeing Rodriguez seemingly in agony while people around him offered water and checked on his well-being, thinking he was simply another witness. “We thought we were safe,” one person remarked.
In the chaos outside the museum, Rodriguez was engaged in conversation by another bystander, who noticed he appeared lost in his surroundings. Once he got up and admitted to the shooting, the situation took a shocking turn.
A witness expressed concern that Rodriguez might reach for something dangerous from his bag, considering the tense atmosphere. However, he was eventually restrained by others at the scene until authorities arrived.
Marinuzzi, one of the witnesses, shared her intense feelings following the event, noting that offering help seemed like the right thing to do, despite the fear and confusion: “I feel lucky to be alive,” she said. “Instincts kicked in to help, and that’s what we did.”
