Feds seek death penalty in murder of Israeli embassy staffers
Elias Rodriguez has been charged with multiple counts of terrorism.
Federal prosecutors announced Friday that they are seeking the death penalty against the suspect charged with killing two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington last year.
Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, stated in court documents that the circumstances surrounding Elias Rodriguez's alleged shooting of Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26 justify the death penalty if he is convicted.
The victims, who were due to be engaged, were shot and killed leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C on May 21, 2025.
Rodriguez was seen in videos shouting "Free, Free Palestine!" inside the museum just minutes after he allegedly shot Lischinsky and Milgrim dozens of times, and later allegedly told police upon his arrest, "I did it for Palestine," according to investigators.
Lischinsky was an Israeli citizen and employee of the government of Israel who was in the U.S. on official business while working for the Israeli Embassy at the time of the shooting, authorities said. Milgrim, of Overland Park, Kansas, was also employed by the Israeli Embassy.
Rodriguez was initially indicted on hate crime and murder charges and in February, federal prosecutors issued a superseding indictment charging him with terrorism charges.
Rodriguez, 31, has pleaded not guilty. The trial is pending.