“Free Palestine” Shooter Kills Israeli Embassy Staff in D.C.

Thursday, 22 May 2025 | Two staff members of the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., Yaron Lischinsky and his American fiancée Sarah Milgrim, were shot and killed Wednesday night, May 21, 2025, outside the Capital Jewish Museum in downtown Washington, D.C., in what authorities are investigating as a hate crime or act of terrorism. The couple were leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee when the attack occurred. 

The shooting took place around 9:05 p.m. in a busy area close to the FBI’s Washington field office and other government buildings. Police say a lone gunman approached a group of four people, pulled out a handgun, and opened fire, striking Yaron and Sarah. Both were found unconscious and not breathing, and despite emergency efforts, they were pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, entered the museum after the shooting and was detained by event security. He chanted “Free, free Palestine” while in custody and voluntarily told authorities where he had discarded the weapon, which police recovered. 

Rodriguez was seen pacing outside the museum before the attack and, according to reports, had no prior interactions with law enforcement, nor was he on any security watchlists. D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith said there was no prior intelligence indicating a threat in the area. One witness reported that Rodriguez initially posed as a bystander, claiming he needed help, before admitting to the shooting and saying he “did it for Gaza.” Police are investigating motives tied to antisemitism or terrorism, with the FBI assisting through its Joint Terrorism Task Force. 

Israeli ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter described Yaron and his fiancée as a young couple who had come to enjoy an evening at the city’s cultural center. Leiter noted that Yaron had recently purchased an engagement ring, planning to propose to Sarah in Jerusalem the following week. “They were a beautiful couple whose lives were cut short,” he said at a press conference. 

President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, wrote, “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!” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a post on X, stated, “We condemn in the strongest possible terms the murder of two staff members from the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. Our prayers are with their loved ones. This was a brazen act of cowardly, antisemitic violence. Make no mistake: we will track down those responsible and bring them to justice.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the killings “senseless” and vowed to bring the perpetrator to justice, while Attorney General Pam Bondi, who visited the scene with US Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro, promised full prosecution. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser emphasized that the city would not tolerate violence or hate, stating, “We will not tolerate any acts of terrorism, and we’re going to stand together as a community in the coming days and weeks to send a clear message that we will not tolerate antisemitism.” 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the shooting a “heinous antisemitic murder” and announced increased security at Israeli missions worldwide. “My heart aches for the families of the beloved young man and woman, whose lives were cut short,” he said. Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon labeled it a “depraved act of antisemitic terrorism,” adding that attacking diplomats and the Jewish community “is crossing a red line.” 

The FBI and D.C. police are investigating if Rodriguez acted alone or if he had accomplices, and if the attack is linked to terrorist or hate-based groups. The Capital Jewish Museum, which had recently received a security grant due to rising concerns about antisemitism, was hosting a Young Diplomats Reception for Jewish professionals and diplomats. The American Jewish Committee expressed devastation, stating, “Our attention and our hearts are solely with those who were harmed and their families.” 

The incident has underscored and heightened concerns about antisemitic violence, prompting calls for unity and stronger protections for Jewish communities across the US.