Washington DC Shooter Charged with First-Degree Murder

Elias Rodriguez, the shooter accused of the murder of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington DC on Wednesday night, May 21, was charged on Thursday with two counts of murder. 

The investigation has found that the victims were leaving an event at the Jewish Museum when Rodriguez approached a group of four people and began shooting. The two victims have been identified as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim.

According to an affidavit quoted by American media, Rodriguez has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, murder of foreign officials, causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

“During an interview with MPD detectives, after having been advised of his Miranda rights and waiving them, Rodriguez expressed admiration for the actions of an individual who self-immolated in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., on February 25, 2024, as a form of protest intended to draw attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” the affidavit alleged.

Further, a British news outlet reported on Thursday that Rodriguez was affiliated with a radical left-wing organization and regularly disseminated anti-Israel messages.

The report stated that Rodriguez had scheduled a post to publish an hour after the attack, accusing Israel of committing atrocities against Palestinians. (INN/VFI News)

“Our Heavenly Father, we pray for the families of Yaron and Sarah who were murdered on Wednesday. We send our sincerest condolences to them and we pray that You comfort them and give them Your supernatural peace and hope amid this intense period of grief. We thank You for helping the police officers apprehend the suspect and we pray that he will receive the punishment he deserves. We pray Lord that You will prevent any more acts of hostility against the Jewish people and that Your hand of protection will be over every Jewish individual around the world. In Yeshua's Name we pray, amen.”