Two Israeli embassy employees murdered at the Jewish museum in Washington, DC
The suspicious archer cried out, “Free Palestine!” When he was arrested at the Jewish Museum in Washington, DC
The suspect cried pro-Palestinian hymns after fatally shooting two Israeli embassy workers in a shooting outside the Washington, D.C. capital Jewish Museum, authorities said.
The suspect was identified as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, according to Metropolitan Police Department Prime Minister Pamela Smith. Smith said Rodriguez fired outside the museum on the evening of May 21, killing a man and a woman who had left the event there.
Israeli Foreign Ministry has identified the victims as Jaron Lisinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. Yechiel Leiter, the US Israeli ambassador, said the two murdered victims were “a young couple about to engage.”
Rodriguez was then entered the museum and was detained by security at the event. He cried out “Free Palestine, free,” Smith said while in custody. After he was handcuffed, Rodriguez “imposed that he had committed a crime,” Smith said. He also told authorities where he threw away his weapon, but it later recovered, she said.
Rodriguez was interviewed by the joint terrorist task force team of the DC police and the FBI, FBI Deputy Director Don Bongino said overnight.
“The early metric is that this is a targeted act of violence,” Bongino said in a social media post.
Here’s what we know about the suspect:
Who is Elias Rodriguez?
Rodriguez, 30, is from Chicago, authorities said.
LinkedIn’s profile, which appears to belong to Rodriguez, shows that he works for the Chicago-based American Osteopathic Disorder Information Association. His profile and the association’s website say he works as an expert at the American Osteopathic Association Profile Agency.
“We were shocked and saddened to learn that an AOIA employee has been arrested as suspects of this horrifying crime,” said president of the American Zeopathy Association Theresa A. Hooka and CEO Kathleen S. Watercress in a statement. “As a physician organization dedicated to protecting the health and holiness of human life, we believe in the right for all to live safely without fear of violence.”
Hubka and Creason said the association will work with investigators to express “deep sadness” in the news.
“We spread deep sympathy for the loved ones of our victims and wish them peace, comfort and strength during this unimaginable, difficult time,” they said.
According to a LinkedIn profile, Rodriguez previously worked as a production and logistics coordinator and oral history researcher for History Maker, a nonprofit in Illinois.
Rodriguez’s biography on the history maker’s website accessed through the internet archives said that Rodriguez was born and raised in Chicago and holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Illinois at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The biography says he lives in the city’s Avondale area and previously worked as a content writer in the technology field.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department under investigation did not immediately confirm that the profile belonged to Rodriguez. It was not immediately clear whether Rodriguez had a lawyer to comment on his behalf. The American Osteopathic Association, the nonprofit history maker, and the University of Illinois, Chicago, did not respond immediately to inquiries from USA Today.
What happened during the filming?
Authorities responded to the shooting shortly after 9pm on May 21, Metropolitan Police Department Smith said. The two victims had concluded the event at the Capital Jewish Museum when the shooting was carried out.
Rodriguez was seen traveling back and forth outside the museum before the shooting, Smith said. He approached a group of four and fired the victim, she said.
After his dismissal, the suspect entered the museum and was taken into custody. During his custody, he cried out the chant “free and free Palestine,” Smith said. The video showing Rodriguez in custody shows him repeating the chant over and over again. Authorities drive him out of the museum.
Yoni Kalin and Katie Kalisher told the Associated Press that they were inside the museum on the evening of May 21st. Karin said that some people in the museum thought he needed help and brought him water. He later pulled out a red kefier and cried out “Free Palestine,” Karin told the Associated Press.
Contribution: Thano Nguyen, US TOD; Reuters
