Suspect in killing of Israeli embassy staffers in Washington pleads not guilty | World News

The suspect accused of gunning down two Israeli embassy staffers outside a Washington museum in May this year pleaded not guilty on Thursday. The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, is facing nine federal charges, including murder of a foreign official and perpetrating a hate crime resulting in death.
‘Motivated hatred of Israel’
According to US prosecutors, Rodriguez was motivated hatred of Israel when he fatally shot Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, two Israeli embassy staffers, as they were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in downtown Washington on May 21.
Lischinsky, a research assant in the embassy’s political section, and Milgrim, a member of the embassy’s adminrative staff, were about to be engaged at the time of the shooting. They were attending an event for young diplomats hosted the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that fights antisemitism and supports Israel.
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Opened fire 21 times
31-year-old Rodriguez from Chicago allegedly waited outside the museum before opening fire at close range on the couple. He fired at least 21 rounds and continued to shoot even after the victims had fallen.
Rodriguez later entered the museum, reportedly pretending to be fleeing the shooting. He then revealed a red keffiyeh and shouted “Free Free Palestine” as he was taken into custody. In a later statement to investigators, Rodriguez stated: “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” federal officials said.
The indictment cites statements Rodriguez allegedly made online prior to the shooting, including a call to “vaporize every Israeli 18 and above.” Rodriguez also posted an online manifesto declaring that perpetrators and abettors of Israel’s military actions in Gaza had “forfeited their humanity,” according to court documents.
Could face death penalty
He was indicted last month on charges including hate crime and murder.Story continues below this ad
The indictment includes findings that would make Rodriguez eligible for the death penalty if convicted, the start of what would likely be a years-long process.
“Violence against anyone in this Drict will not be tolerated, especially violence which has hate at its core and is the genesis of violence,” DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said before his indictment.
On Thursday, Rodriguez, dressed in an orange jumpsuit, answered “yes” when Washington-based US Drict Judge Randolph Moss asked if he was satisfied with his legal representation. His lawyer entered the not guilty plea on his behalf during a brief hearing.