Accused Israeli Embassy Killer Pleads Not Guilty, Demands Jury

WASHINGTON — The man accused of gunning down two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., disputed all his charges on Thursday and demanded a jury trial.

Elias Rodriguez, through his lawyer, entered a plea of not guilty to a nine-count indictment containing a slew of hate crime, assault and murder charges over the May 21 killings of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim during his arraignment at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Obama-appointed Judge Randolph Moss ordered the prosecution and defense to submit a status report on Dec. 5 that will suggest next steps for the case, which drew national attention amid concerns about rising antisemitism.

Rodriguez was seen on surveillance footage walking past victims Lischinsky and Milgrim outside the Capital Jewish Museum, turning around and shooting them both with a handgun, authorities previously said. He then allegedly approached them and shot at Migrilm multiple times as she tried to crawl away. Police said they found 21 shell casings at the scene.

“I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza. I am unarmed,” Rodriguez allegedly told police officers arresting him, according to a criminal complaint. “As MPD officers were escorting from the Museum, he shouted ‘Free Palestine,’” the complaint alleged.

The suspect told D.C. police interrogators that he had bought a ticket to the Capital Jewish Museum event that the victims attended three hours before its commencement, the complaint said. He allegedly transported his gun via checked luggage from Chicago, Illinois, where he resided