The man accused of fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staff members outside a museum in Washington, D.C., is expected to make his first court appearance on Monday.
Elias Rodriguez, 30, was detained Wednesday night at the Capital Jewish Museum, where he allegedly shouted “Free, free Palestine."
Officers responded to reports of a shooting around 9:08 p.m. and found an unresponsive man and woman. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
The victims were identified as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, a couple who authorities said were exiting the museum when they were shot.
D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith said Rodriguez was seen pacing outside the museum before the shooting. He then entered the building and was detained by event security.
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Authorities said Rodriguez was not previously known to law enforcement. Investigators have traveled to Chicago, where the suspect is from, to gather more information about a possible motive. The FBI said it's also working to verify the authenticity of writings allegedly authored by the suspect.
President Donald Trump condemned the attack in a post early Thursday on Truth Social.
“These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA,” he wrote.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog also called the shootings an act of antisemitism.
“America and Israel will stand united in defense of our people and our shared values,” Herzog said. “Terror and hate will not break us.”
Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said the victims were in a relationship and that Lischinsky had recently bought an engagement ring.
“The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem,” Leiter said.
