Elias Rodriguez, who stands accused of the fatal shootings of two employees of the Israeli Embassy near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, might face the death sentence if found guilty, as indicated by a newly revealed FBI affidavit.
Rodriguez, aged 31, is facing charges for the murder of foreign officials, which is a federal capital offense, along with several firearm-related charges and two counts of first-degree murder.
If found guilty on any of the first two charges, he could potentially receive the death penalty. According to D.C. law, a first-degree murder conviction requires a minimum prison term of 30 years, with the possibility of life imprisonment.
Rodriguez waived his right to a detention hearing and will be held without bond while he awaits trial. He was ordered back to court on June 18 for a preliminary hearing.
Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Washington Jeanine Pirro speaks during a press update on the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., on May 22, 2025. (Drew Angerer/AFP via Getty Images)
Speaking at a press update on Thursday, interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Washington Jeanine Pirro said the community “is reeling as a result of one person’s actions.”
“Two families are now left to grieve for dreams that will never be realized,” she said.
“And as I speak right now, there is an individual who is being presented in court and charged with various crimes. Thirty-one-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, Illinois, is now charged by complaint after his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharp.”
Rodriguez is charged with murder of foreign officials because one of the victims was an Israeli citizen and classified as an “official guest” of the United States by the State Department.
He is also charged with causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of first-degree murder.
