May 22, 2025
Two Israeli embassy staff members were tragically killed Wednesday night in Washington, D.C., after attending an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. Authorities say the victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim—who were soon to be engaged—were ambushed by a gunman as they left the building following an American Jewish Committee gathering centered on humanitarian solutions for Gaza. The suspect, 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, was seen pacing outside before allegedly opening fire on a small group, fatally wounding the couple. After the attack, he entered the museum and shouted, “Free, free Palestine!” before being apprehended by security. His weapon was recovered at the scene.
Law enforcement officials, including the FBI and Metropolitan Police, are investigating the shooting as a possible hate crime or act of terrorism. FBI Assistant Director Steven Jensen called it a "heinous crime," while D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser condemned the act as intolerable violence fueled by hate and antisemitism. Israeli embassy spokesperson Tal Naim Cohen confirmed the diplomats were shot at close range and expressed confidence in U.S. authorities to ensure justice and protect Jewish communities. The embassy mourned the loss of Lischinsky and Milgrim, describing them as being “in the prime of their lives.”
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SOURCE: Fox News