A newly unsealed FBI affidavit shows Elias Rodriguez; the man accused of shooting and killing two people outside of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, could face the death penalty.
According to Fox News, Rodriguez has been charged with the murder of foreign officials, two counts of first-degree murder, and a slew of firearm charges, and could face a minimum of 30 years to life in prison if convicted.
Rodriguez is due to appear in court June 18 for a preliminary hearing, after he waived his right to a detention hearing and is being held without bond until trial.
The FBI affidavit notes Yaron Lischinsky, one of the two victims who was shot alongside his girlfriend Sarah Milgrim, was a citizen of Israel and had been granted “official guest” status by the U.S. State Department. Milgrim was an employee of the Israeli Embassy.
According to investigators, surveillance camera caught the murder on camera, after a man dressed in a blue jacket with a hood approached the couple from behind and started shooting. The suspect then continued to fire what appeared to be a 9mm handgun at Milgrim as she attempted to crawl away, reloading his weapon in the process before firing again.
When approached by law enforcement officers, Rodriguez reportedly did not resist arrest and told officers, “I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza. I am unarmed.” Rodriguez reportedly shouted, “Free Palestine,” as he was being arrested.
Rodriguez also travelled from Chicago to Washington, D.C., the day before the shooting, bringing a legally purchased firearm with him, and purchased a ticket to the Israeli event only hours before killing Lischinsky and Milgrim.
Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Washington, Jeanine Pirro said at a press conference that the community “is reeling” after the shooting.
“Two families are now left to grieve for dreams that will never be realized,” Pirro said. “And as I speak right now, there is an individual who is being presented in court and charged with various crimes. Thirty-one-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, Illinois, is now charged by complaint after his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharp.”
