Death penalty sought for man accused of killing Israeli embassy staff
Justice Department files notice seeking capital punishment for Elias Rodriguez in 2025 shooting outside Jewish museum
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Justice Department officials announced Friday they are seeking the death penalty for the man accused of fatally shooting two Israeli embassy staff members outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C., last year.
The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, faces federal hate crime and murder charges for killing Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum on May 21, 2025.
According to the notice filed by United States Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the DOJ is seeking a sentence of death for murder of a foreign official, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and causing death through the use of a firearm.
“Let me be clear: Anyone who commits acts of political violence in the nation’s capital will face the full force of the law,” Pirro said.
The initial indictment states Rodriguez shouted “Free Palestine” during the shooting and later told police, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.”
In Friday’s notice, prosecutors said Rodriguez’s actions were “motivated by political, ideological, national, and religious bias, contempt, and hatred.”
Prosecutors said he “targeted individuals whom he perceived to have attended an event for young Jewish professionals, organized by the American Jewish Committee and hosted at the Capital Jewish Museum, to amplify the effect of his crimes.”
A trial date has not been set. Rodriguez will be back in court June 30.
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