Hate crime: Israeli embassy staffers murderer charged in Washington; could face death penalty

Time of India

3 days ago

The US on Wednesday filed federal hate crime charges against the man accused of fatally shooting two Israeli embassy staffers outside a museum in Washington, DC, earlier this year.
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According to court documents, the attack was allegedly motivated by the victims' Israeli nationality, reported Reuters.
The nine-count indictment against Elias Rodriguez, 31, accuses him of committing a hate crime resulting in death, motivated by the 'actual and perceived national origin of any person,' according to the charges.
Rodriguez already faces charges of two counts of first-degree murder, the murder of foreign officials, and additional offences in connection with the May 21 shooting that killed Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, who were both employees of the embassy, outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington.
The indictment includes special findings that could permit the justice department to seek the death penalty, reports ABC News. He also faces charges for causing a death through the use of a firearm and for discharging a firearm during a violent crime.
At the time of the shooting, the incident was being investigated both as a hate crime and as an act of terrorism, as per Jeanine Pirro, the US Attorney for the district of Columbia.
"These horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end now! Hatred and radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!" Trump posted on his Truth Social platform at the time of the incident.
Sarah and Yaron, who were fatally shot, were a couple and were planning to get engaged soon.
Surveillance footage captured Rodriguez firing approximately 20 rounds at the couple, as per an FBI affidavit in the criminal complaint.
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After the two collapsed, he leaned over and fired additional shots, even after Sarah attempted to crawl away and sit up.
The affidavit also noted that the gunman paused to reload before continuing to fire.
'I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza,' Rodriguez told police at the scene, as per the complaint. He was then taken into custody.
Rodriguez, who was born and raised in Chicago, traveled to the Washington area one day before the shooting, reported Reuters.