Man accused of killing 2 Israeli Embassy staffers in D.C. charged with murder of foreign officials

Man, Elias Rodriguez, 31, is facing charges for the murder of foreign officials and other offenses. According to federal authorities, Rodriguez, who was accused of fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington after they left an event at a Jewish museum, declared to the police upon his arrest, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.” The victims, an American woman and an Israeli man who were about to get engaged, were targeted in what authorities described as an act of terror. Rodriguez, who was heard shouting “Free Palestine” during his arrest, may face additional charges as the investigation continues into whether the attack was motivated by hate crimes against the Jewish community and terrorism. The shooting, captured on surveillance video, showed Rodriguez firing at the victims multiple times after they fell to the ground. The victims were identified as Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, and Sarah Milgrim, an American, who were planning to get engaged soon. The tragic incident has led Israeli missions to heighten security measures and lower their flags to half-staff.