Man charged with murder in fatal Washington shooting of two Israeli embassy aides

Witnesses heard suspect with past ties to far-left groups chant 'Free Palestine'

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WASHINGTON - A Chicago-born man arrested as the lone suspect in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington was charged on May 22 in federal court with two counts of first-degree murder in a killing widely condemned as an act of anti-Semitism.

Elias Rodriguez, 30, is accused of opening fire on a group of people on the night of May 21 as they left an event for young diplomats hosted by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that supports Israel and fights anti-Semitism.

Rodriguez told police on the scene, "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza," according to the charging documents.

Witnesses recounted hearing him chant "Free Palestine" after he was taken into custody.

The two victims struck by gunfire and killed were identified as Mr. Yaron Lischinsky, 31, and Ms. Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, a young couple about to become engaged to be married.

Friends and members of advocacy groups they belonged to said the pair were committed to building bridges between Arabs and Jews in hopes of ending bloodshed in the Middle East.

After the shooting, Israeli embassies around the world immediately stepped up security.

In addition to two counts of first-degree murder, Rodriguez was charged in a six-page criminal complaint with murder of foreign officials, causing death with a firearm and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence.

Interim US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, newly appointed by President Donald Trump as the top federal prosecutor in Washington, said at a news briefing that the complaint against Rodriguez constitutes a "death penalty-eligible case".

At his first appearance in court on May 22, the suspect waived his right to a detention hearing, and a preliminary hearing in the case was set for June 18, Ms. Pirro said.