Jeanine Pirro, interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, speaks during a press update on the shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers, at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 22, 2025. /VCG
The suspect accused of gunning down two Israeli Embassy staffers outside a Jewish museum in Washington was charged on Thursday with murder.
Elias Rodriguez, 30, shouted "Free Palestine" as he was taken away by police after the shooting late Wednesday outside the Capital Jewish Museum, prosecutors said in a court document.
"I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza," Rodriguez told the officers.
Israel identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, a U.S. employee of the embassy, and said they were a couple planning to marry.
Rodriguez made an initial court appearance on Thursday after being charged with two counts of first-degree murder and murder of foreign officials. If convicted, he could receive the death penalty.
According to court documents, Rodriguez approached his victims, who were facing away from him, and fired 21 rounds. He shot multiple times at the couple after they were already on the ground and fired at Milgrim as she tried to crawl away.
Flowers and candles are pictured as law enforcement works the scene after two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 22, 2025. /VCG
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited "the terrible price of anti-Semitism" and decried "wild incitement against the State of Israel."
Soon after the shooting, U.S. President Donald Trump – who spoke with Netanyahu on Thursday – posted on social media that the attack was clearly anti-Semitic.
Authorities are investigating the shooting "as an act of terrorism and as a hate crime," Jeanine Pirro, interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, told reporters.
"I suspect as we go forward ... that there will be more charges added," she said, noting that a preliminary hearing was set for June 18.
The killings took place outside the Capital Jewish Museum, located 1.6 kilometers from the White House, following a social event hosted by the American Jewish Committee for young Jewish professionals and the Washington diplomatic community.
On Thursday, mourners gathered at the museum in Washington to sing and pray.
(With input from AFP)