Elias Rodriguez is a 30- to 31-year-old man from Chicago who was charged with the murder of two Israeli Embassy employees, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. in May 2025
. He allegedly opened fire on the couple and two others after an event, shouting "free Palestine" upon his arrest
. Rodriguez was charged with multiple counts including first-degree murder and murder of foreign officials, and he faces a possible death sentence if convicted
. Rodriguez has a background of political activism, particularly on the left. He had a brief association with the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) which he ended in 2017, and was involved in protests against police violence, corporate greed, and Israel’s actions in Gaza
. He lived in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood and worked various jobs including as an administrative assistant at a medical trade group and roles related to writing and history research
. His activism included protests against police violence and corporate influence, and more recently, his online posts focused on the Gaza war
. He legally flew from Chicago to Washington with a firearm declared in his checked baggage, adhering to airline and licensing requirements
. After the shooting, he reportedly told police he "did it for Palestine, did it for Gaza"
. His parents have chosen not to comment publicly, though his father is a military veteran who served in Iraq
. Rodriguez had no prior criminal record before this incident
. In summary, Elias Rodriguez is a politically active Chicago resident charged with the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff in Washington, motivated by his pro-Palestinian stance and left-wing activism
