Alleged Attack on Israeli Diplomats in Washington: Details Emerge on Suspect Elias Rodriguez
Context of the Incident
Elias Rodriguez, 31, has been accused of the premeditated murder of Israeli diplomats Yaron Lishinski and Sarah Milgram outside the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. This tragic event occurred late Wednesday night as authorities released more information regarding Rodriguez’s intentions leading up to the shooting.
Allegations and Suspect’s Background
According to Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Leiter, Rodriguez identified Lishinski and Milgram as embassy employees while attending an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) earlier that evening. Reports suggest that he engaged with attendees at the event, inquiring about the individuals he later targeted. The ambassador noted that Rodriguez’s behavior raised suspicion, prompting him to be asked to leave the venue.
Rodriguez allegedly lay in wait for the couple outside the museum. He approached them as they were crossing the street, drew a firearm, and shot them at close range, confirming their deaths with subsequent shots. The indictment against him recounts a chilling sequence of events: despite the couple’s fall, Rodriguez reportedly bent over them to fire again.
Leiter further detailed that Rodriguez’s actions were not random; Lishinski and Milgram were deliberately chosen due to their diplomatic roles. It’s worth noting that Rodriguez’s girlfriend had previously been arrested for causing disturbances at the Israeli consulate in Chicago. Rodriguez himself was associated with a socialist group described by Leiter as having Marxist characteristics.
Aftermath of the Shooting
Following the shooting, Rodriguez returned to the museum, allegedly despondent, where he concealed the firearm in a plant before mingling with other guests. Eyewitnesses reported that some attendees believed he was a part of the event and even offered him water. Shortly thereafter, Rodriguez purportedly exclaimed, “I did it, I did it,” while stating he acted “for Gaza, for Palestine.”
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his shock regarding the incident and assured that he was personally overseeing the response, indicating he would relay a message of concern to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Eyewitness Accounts and Security Response
Security footage captured the harrowing scene as Rodriguez approached the couple from behind. As they fell, Milgram was shot while attempting to crawl away. Rodriguez was seen reloading and firing again at close range. Fortunately, two Israeli embassy employees who were present managed to escape moments before the attack began, running away as they heard their colleagues cry out in pain.
Witnesses recalled that Rodriguez acted deliberately, methodically discharging his weapon multiple times. There were indications that his firearm malfunctistartd at start point, prompting him to attempt to fire once more even after it appeared empty.
Authorities are actively addressing the incident, hoping to provide closure and juststart for the families affected by this violent act. The investigation into both Rodriguez’s motivations and background continues as the community mourns the loss of Lishinski and Milgram