Tributes continue for Sarah Milgrim after antisemitic shooting in D.C.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tributes are still pouring in for 26-year-old Sarah Milgrim, a Kansas native whose life was cut short last week in what the FBI says was a targeted antisemitic attack in Washington, D.C.
Milgrim and her boyfriend, Yaron Lischinsky, were gunned down Wednesday night.
The FBI is investigating the attack as a hate crime. While the nation processes yet another act of senseless violence, those who knew Sarah are remembering the person she was warm, witty, deeply empathetic and fiercely proud of her Jewish identity.
Kansas leaders not planning on extending STAR Bonds
At a vigil held in her memory, Milgrim's best friend, Amanda Birger, shared stories of their bond—one that spanned years and felt more like family than friendship.
'I want people to speak about who she was, how wonderful she was, and how much we care about others,' Birger said.
'She was smart and funny and empathetic.'
Birger described Sarah as a natural peacemaker and someone who could light up a room, not with volume, but with presence.
'She would wait for her moment and be quiet for like 30 minutes,' Birger said.
'But then punch in with like the funniest thing I've ever heard.'
Sarah and Yaron had been planning a future together, friends say.
The couple had even talked about getting engaged. Birger described Yaron as, 'One of the smartest people I've ever met. He spoke several languages.'
She added, 'He was the perfect partner for Sarah—he was very smart, which she loved.'
1 critical after being shot in Westport, attempted drive to hospital: KCPD
Details about memorial services for Sarah and Yaron have not yet been announced. FOX4 will share updates as soon as they become available.
The Shawnee Mission School District, where Sarah graduated from Shawnee Mission East, also released a statement mourning her loss. That statement reads:
Yesterday, we received the devastating news that Sarah Milgrim, a 2017 graduate of Shawnee Mission East High School, was killed in a senseless act of violence in Washington DC. We are devastated, for Sarah, for her partner Yaron, for her family, and for all who knew her in the Shawnee Mission East community and beyond.
While the investigation is ongoing, early reports suggest this was a targeted act of violence motivated by antisemitism. I know I speak for all in the Shawnee Mission community when I say hatred in any form is unacceptable. Violence is never the answer. There is much that divides us in this nation, and in our world, but it is NEVER acceptable to settle our differences with violence. 'An 'eye for an eye' leaves the whole world blind.'
That this act appears to have been motivated by antisemitic hate makes the tragedy even more horrifying. The American Experiment was begun by people who were fleeing religious persecution, and the freedom to exercise our religious faith without fear of harm is literally written into our constitution. Many of our Jewish families in Shawnee Mission emigrated to this country specifically to escape the horrors of the Holocaust, and unfortunately, even our own community has not been immune to the horrors of antisemitic hate.
Friends, we cannot allow this to be who we are becoming, either as individuals or as a society. We are a broad, diverse society, but we can never allow our differences to spill over into hate. If we do, we are all wounded.
Sarah's death is a huge loss for all of us. She had already earned masters degrees in natural resources and sustainable development, and in international affairs. She was just beginning to make her mark on the world. I urge you not to allow her death to go unnoticed. Sarah believed this world is for everyone. All of us must find ways to reach across our differences, to work together for the better world we all crave. Let's do this for Sarah. May her memory be for a blessing.
Sarah Milgrim's memory is already inspiring a community to speak louder, love harder, and stand up against hate in all its forms.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Self-proclaimed 'Jew hater' pleads guilty after targeting victims at NYC protests
A New York man charged with federal hate crimes after repeatedly assaulting Jewish counter-protesters at anti-Israel protests in New York City between 2024 and 2025, pleaded guilty to one count as part of an agreement during a court hearing Wednesday. Tarek Bazrouk, 20, appeared Wednesday afternoon for a status hearing in federal court, where he was facing three counts of committing hate crimes for allegedly targeting and assaulting Jewish people at three NYC protests related to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. A grand jury indicted him last month. During the status hearing, Bazrouk pleaded guilty to one count as part of an agreement in which a superseding information document was presented. In essence, the document replaces a previously filed indictment in a criminal case. A bearded Bazrouk appeared in court wearing a tan jumpsuit and black eyeglasses and shuffled through papers while waiting for the hearing to get underway. Rise In Antisemitic Extremism Fuels Wave Of Terror Plots In The United States Since 2020 Judge Richard M. Berman presided over the hearing and began by saying he was informed Bazrouk was planning to plead guilty. After going through some documents and verifying with Bazrouk that was the route he wanted to take, Berman asked him if he wished to plead guilty. Read On The Fox News App "I wish to plead guilty," Bazrouk said. Bazrouk then read a statement saying, between April 2024 and January 2025, he assaulted others because of their identity. He further admitted to punching someone Jan. 6. "I am very sorry," Bazrouk said. Boulder Terror Attack Latest In Antisemitic Incidents Rising Across Us In 2025 He continued, explaining he is Palestinian and started to protest as a way to express outrage over Israel's actions in Gaza. Bazrouk apologized to his family and community before the judge asked if he was pleading to the superseding information. "Yes, your honor," Bazrouk said. The plea was then accepted, and he was found guilty. Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 1. Boulder, Colorado Suspected Terror Attack Suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman Faces Murder, Assault, Other Charges Bazrouk was arrested for three instances of assaulting Jewish people but "remained undeterred and quickly returned to using violence to target Jews in New York City," according to U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton of the Southern District of New York. The first instance took place April 15, 2024, when Bazrouk, who the DOJ said was wearing a green headband "typically worn by Hamas terrorists," allegedly attended a protest outside the New York Stock Exchange in lower Manhattan. Virginia Man Charged With Planning 'Mass Casualty' Attack At Nyc Israeli Consulate He was arrested by the NYPD for lunging at a group of pro-Israel protesters, the DOJ said, and kicked a Jewish college student in the stomach while being taken to a patrol vehicle. The person he kicked was standing near Jewish protesters wearing kippahs, waving Israeli flags and singing Jewish songs. Bazrouk allegedly assaulted another Jewish student Dec. 9, 2024, during a protest near a university in upper Manhattan, the DOJ said. The second victim was with his brother – both were wearing kippahs – and had an Israeli flag draped across his shoulders while singing Jewish songs. Bazrouk was accused of stealing their flag and running off. The victim and his brother chased him through the crowd to retrieve it, and after they got it back, Bazrouk allegedly sneaked up beside the second victim and punched him in the face. At the beginning of this year, on Jan. 6, Bazrouk allegedly committed his third assault on a Jewish person at a protest in Manhattan. The third victim had an Israeli flag draped around his shoulders and was wearing a hat with the flag and a chain with the Star of David. Bazrouk was wearing a keffiyeh on his face when he allegedly "made contact" with the third victim's shoulder and wrapped his foot around his ankle. When the victim attempted to push him away, Bazrouk allegedly cursed at him and punched him in the nose. Law enforcement obtained warrants to search a cellphone allegedly used by Bazrouk, which revealed an "antisemitic bias" and "support for anti-Jewish terrorist groups, including Hamas," the DOJ said, citing court documents. Bazrouk allegedly identified himself as a "Jew hater" in text messages, called Jewish people "worthless" and said "Allah" wanted "us [to] rid of [Jews]," among other vulgar statements, according to the documents. The documents added he told a friend he was "mad happy" when he found out family members overseas were part of Hamas. The DOJ described his phone as "littered with pro-Hamas and pro-Hizballah (sic) propaganda." Fox News Digital's Kirill Clark and Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this article source: Self-proclaimed 'Jew hater' pleads guilty after targeting victims at NYC protests

Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Man indicted on charges from pipe bomb explosions
Jun. 11—A federal grand jury indicted a Hamilton County man Wednesday on federal crimes related to explosive devices. Robert Gilb, 50, of Green Twp., allegedly detonated three improvised explosive devices, or pipe bombs, in Hamilton and Butler counties in March and April. He was arrested Tuesday by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force. He possessed an unregistered destructive device and transporting explosive materials, the press release says. "This alleged activity posed a serious risk to public safety. The FBI worked closely with our law enforcement partners to neutralize this potential danger and protect the community." Hamilton County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Miami Twp. for a report of a loud explosion. What appeared to be a blast crater and components of an improvised explosive device were found, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. The FBI investigation revealed there were two previous incidents in Morgan Twp. in Butler County that appeared to have had similar characteristics to the incident in Miami Twp. Butler County Sheriff's deputies responded to incidents March 23 and March 28. The FBI said witnesses saw Gilb in a white BMW near the site of at least one of the locations of the explosion. Gilb is charged with three counts of possessing an unregistered destructive device and three counts of transporting explosive materials. Each charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New Oklahoma law cracking down on Bitcoin ATM scams
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – A new law is cracking down on scammers using Bitcoin ATMs to steal your money. Senate Bill 1083 was authored by Sen. Darrell Weaver (R-Moore) and Rep. Mark Lepak (R-Claremore), and it introduced ways to protect Oklahomans from falling victim to these scams. Cryptocurrency ATMs look like regular ATMs and allow people to conduct legitimate cryptocurrency transactions. However, they can also be used to carry out fraudulent activity. Service Oklahoma warns residents of text scam These scams are on the rise across the nation. In 2024, the FBI had more than 10,956 complaints about these kiosks, with $246.7 million stolen. Oklahomans alone lost $37.7 million to cryptocurrency-related scams, including scams related to cryptocurrency ATMs. 'They prey on the vulnerable, which I really don't like, and that's what they do,' said Sen. Weaver. Victims are coerced to deposit cash, which unknowingly goes right to the scammer. News 4 reported last year about an elderly lady who lost her entire life savings to a bitcoin ATM. A scammer pretended to be a federal agent and convinced her that her identity had been stolen and the only way to protect her money was to convert it into cryptocurrency. 'I never thought it would happen to us, and she's humiliated, she's embarrassed, she's doubting her choices, and she's a smart woman, she's bright, and so it's heartbreaking,' said Jamie Moore, whose mother was scammed. This new law will help in scenarios like that one. 'Right now, in states across the country, these cryptocurrency ATMs are very unregulated,' said Joy McGill, advocacy director, AARP Oklahoma. Under the new law, all kiosks will be licensed and tracked by the state. 'We'll figure out where they're at, what the process is if there is a fraud, how they can go about it, and getting the bankers involved in this, the banking authorities involved in this is very key,' said Sen. Weaver. There will also be daily transaction limits, along with fraud warnings on the machines. Victims will also be able to seek refunds if they are reported within 14 days to the police and the kiosk law will go into effect on November 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.