The suspected pro-Palestinian gunman who shot dead a young Jewish diplomatic couple in Washington DC has been unmasked as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, from Chicago, is understood to be a far-left activist who worked as an ‘oral history researcher’ on African American communities at educational non-profit TheHistoryMakers.
In the alleged shooter’s profile, which has been deleted from the organization’s website, it says his role was to ‘prepare detailed research outlines and biographies of accomplished leaders in the African American community.’
He previously worked as a content writer in the ‘technology space’, the profile reads, and he holds a B.A in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Images circulating on social media appear to show Rodriguez at a Black Lives Matter protest in 2017 on the three year anniversary of the police shooting of Laquan McDonald in Chicago, and he is believed to have been affiliated with the Part for Socialism group.
An alleged manifesto said to have been written by Rodriguez was published online before the killings, which claimed: ‘Public opinion has shifted against the genocidal apartheid state, and the American government has simply shrugged, they’ll do without public opinion then, criminalize it where they can, suffocate it with bland reassurances that they’re doing all they can to restrain Israel where it cannot criminalize protest outright.’
It comes as footage from the shooting on Wednesday night in Washington DC allegedly showed Rodriguez screaming ‘Free Palestine‘ after the shocking shooting.
Israeli diplomat Yaron Lischinsky and his girlfriend Sarah Milgrim were identified as the victims in the vile attack that was condemned by President Donald Trump.
The couple, who were set to get engaged next week, had attended a Young Diplomats event before they were shot.
The suspected pro-Palestinian gunman who shot dead a young Jewish diplomatic couple in Washington DC has been unmasked as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, pictured calmly sat outside the museum when he was arrested
Rodriguez, from Chicago , is understood to be a far-left activist who worked as an ‘oral history researcher’ on African American communities at educational non-profit TheHistoryMakers
Lischinsky was a German-Israeli dual national employed as a research assistant for Middle East & North African Affairs at the Embassy’s Political Department, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Israeli ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter revealed Lischinsky had purchased an engagement ring earlier this week ‘with the intention of proposing next week in Jerusalem.’
The other victim in Wednesday night’s senseless attack was his soon-to-be fiancée.
Milgrim worked in the public diplomacy department at the embassy. She earned a master’s degree in international studies from American University.
One of her main duties was organizing missions and visits to Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that ‘wild incitement against the State of Israel’ was to blame for the horror attack and that it was the ‘terrible price of antisemitism.’
Shocking images from immediately after the shooting show Rodriguez sitting calmly at a bench with one leg crossed over the other, while separate footage captures the moment he is hysterically hauled away by cops.
‘Free, free Palestine,’ he shouts repeatedly as he squirms against the officers’ grip.
Rodriguez is suspected of murdering a young Israeli couple at the Jewish Museum in Washington DC on Wednesday night. He is pictured being arrested shortly after the killings
Rodriguez is pictured surrounded by police and security in the moments after Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were gunned down. Onlookers say they had no idea he was the suspect until he was arrested and allegedly confessed
Items are left scattered on the sidewalk outside the museum after the horrific slaying
The haunting pictures and images surfaced as witnesses described seeing Rodriguez ‘pacing back and forth’ outside the museum cocktail reception.
He then approached a group of people that included Lischinsky and Milgrim and then shot them at ‘close range’ with a handgun, the Israeli Embassy said.
Moments later, he casually walked into the museum. Yoni Kalin told Fox 5 News Rodriguez was allowed inside by well-meaning security guards who assumed he was a victim.
‘He was clearly in trauma, he was in shock. Some of the people at the event sat him down, brought him water, asked if he was okay, and he was like ”call the cops”.’
Ten minutes later when authorities arrived, Rodriguez allegedly admitted to carrying out the shooting.
‘He grabbed a red kaffiyeh out of his pocket and started a “Free Palestine” chant: “There’s only one solution, Intifada revolution,” Kalin said. ‘Thank God he left the gun in the bushes outside.’
Kalin, still in shock himself and unsure of what had happened, noticed that the red kaffiyeh had fallen on to the ground and tried to offer it to Rodriguez as he was hauled away, the video revealed.
In the footage of Rodriguez being taken into custody, a plastic cup of water is visible on the bench.
Emotional photos show an onlooker draped in a Jewish flag as police cordoned off the area surrounding the shooting.
Milgrim worked in the public diplomacy department at the embassy. She earned a master’s degree in international studies from American University
Lischinsky was a German-Israeli dual national employed as a research assistant for Middle East & North African Affairs at the Embassy’s Political Department. Pictured with Israeli President Isaac Herzog
The American Jewish Committee was hosting a Young Diplomats event at the museum on Wednesday night, CEO Ted Deutch confirmed
After Rodriguez’s affiliation with the Part for Socialism movement became known, the group issued a statement condemning the attack and denying any involvement with the alleged shooter.
‘We reject any attempt to associate the PSL with the DC shooting. Elias Rodriguez is not a member of the PSL,’ it wrote on X.
‘We know of no contact with him in over seven years. We have nothing to do with this shooting and do not support it.’
The vile shooting late Wednesday night has been widely condemned around the world.
President Trump issued a statement late Wednesday night condemning ‘hatred and radicalism’ which led to the vicious attack.
He said: ‘These horrible D.C. 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!’
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon described the shooting as a ‘depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism.’
He said: ‘The shooting outside the event at the Jewish Museum in Washington – in which Israeli embassy employees were also injured – is a criminal act of anti-Semitic terrorism.’
‘Attacking diplomats and the Jewish community is crossing a red line.’
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter arrive at the scene of the tragedy on Wednesday night
The evening was ‘dedicated to fostering unity and celebrating Jewish heritage’, featuring ‘appetizers, cocktails, conversations, and a special guest speaker.’
It was scheduled to take place 6.30pm and 9pm, and the shooting occurred about 9.15pm.
‘We are devastated that an unspeakable act of violence took place outside the venue,’ the organization said.
‘At this moment, as we await more information from the police about exactly what transpired, our attention and our hearts are solely with those who were harmed and their families.’
Tal Naim Cohen, a spokeswoman for the Israeli Embassy, said the duo was shot ‘at close range’ as they celebrated the evening.
Less than 24 hours ago, the Capital Jewish Museum was awarded a security grant amid ongoing concerns about the safety of guests and staff.
‘Jewish institutions all around town, all around the country, are concerned about security due to some very scary incidents that some institutions have faced and because of a climate of antisemitism,’ Executive Director Beatrice Gurwitz said.
At least two people are dead after a shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC in what is being described as a ‘depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism
‘So, we invest a lot of money in security to make sure that we can keep our doors open to the broad public, that this is a welcoming space, but that people are also safe in this space.’
The museum recently launched a new exhibit which they feared would amplify the risks of an attack – LGBT Jews in the Federal City – to coincide with World Pride.
‘We recognize that there are threats associated with this as well,’ Gurwitz said. ‘And again, we want to ensure that our space is as welcoming and secure for everybody who comes here while we are exploring these stories.’
FBI director Kash Patel confirmed on Wednesday night his department had been briefed on the situation and would investigate, as department heads within the Trump administration came out in force to condemn the violence.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed she had arrived in DC alongside attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, and was later pictured alongside Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter examining the crime scene.
