Justice Department officials are thinking about bringing more charges against Elias Rodriguez, a Chicago resident who is accused of murdering two staff members from the Israeli Embassy on Wednesday evening in Washington, D.C., as reported by Fox News.
Sources familiar with the case say that potential charges could include hate crimes and terrorism. These charges might be filed as soon as today.
Rodriguez, who is 31 years old, currently faces charges for the murder of foreign officials, which is a federal capital crime, as well as several firearm-related charges and two counts of first-degree murder.
If convicted of either of the first two counts, he could face the death penalty. Under D.C. law, a conviction for first-degree murder carries a minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life behind bars.
Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim who were shot and killed as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum, pose for a picture at an unknown location, in this handout image released by Embassy of Israel to the U.S. on May 22, 2025. Embassy of Israel to the USA via X/Handout via REUTERS (Embassy of Israel to the USA via X/Handout via REUTERS)
After the victims collapsed, he moved closer and continued firing, the affidavit said. Milgrim tried to crawl away, but Rodriguez continued shooting at her.
Investigators say Rodriguez paused to reload and then fired at her again before fleeing toward the museum’s entrance. Authorities recovered 21 shell casings, an empty handgun and a discarded magazine at the scene.
A preliminary autopsy found that Milgrim suffered from multiple gunshot wounds. She was taken from the scene by the District of Columbia’s Fire and Emergency Medical Services (DCFEMS) to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia. She was pronounced dead at 9:35 p.m. Wednesday. Autopsy results are pending.
Lischinsky was pronounced dead by DCFEMS at 9:14 p.m. Wednesday. His autopsy results are pending.
Katie Kalisher, who was at the museum Wednesday night, told “FOX & Friends” on Thursday that she had an interaction with Rodriguez prior to his arrest. She said Rodriguez – who looked distressed and was covered in rain – came into the facility after 10 to 15 gunshots were heard outside and asked for somebody to call the police.
A sketch from the preliminary hearing/arraignment for Elias Rodriguez, the man accused of shooting two Israeli staffers. (Credit: Dana Verkouteren)
“I’m like, ‘so, do you like this museum?’ And he’s like, kind of playing dumb with me. He’s like, ‘oh, what kind of museum is this?’ And I’m like ‘it’s a Jewish museum. He asks ‘Do you think that is why they did it?’ in reference to gunshots we had heard. And I was like, ‘yeah maybe, I don’t know but I don’t think so, I hope not,’” Kalisher said. “And that is when he reaches into his bag and pulls out a kaffiyeh and says to me, ‘I did it. I did this for Gaza.’ And then he starts shouting ‘Free, Free Palestine!’ and the police show up and arrest him.”
