Justice Department to seek death penalty for man charged with killing 2 Israeli Embassy staffers
Federal prosecutors say the indictment includes special findings that allow capital punishment, as they allege Rodriguez acted with antisemitic motive.
- On Friday, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the Justice Department will seek the death penalty for Elias Rodriguez, accused of fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staff members outside Capital Jewish Museum in Washington last May.
- Prosecutors describe the killings as calculated and planned, with Rodriguez traveling from Chicago to Washington carrying a handgun in checked luggage. During the shooting, Rodriguez shouted "Free Palestine" and later told police "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza."
- The indictment includes nine federal counts with special findings authorizing prosecutors to pursue capital punishment. Hate crime charges require proving antisemitic motivation, as Rodriguez targeted a young couple preparing for engagement, and surveillance video documented him advancing on victims and firing additional shots.
- Special findings in the indictment authorize the Justice Department to pursue the death penalty if Rodriguez is convicted on federal charges. Pirro acknowledged staffing challenges but said prosecutors are prepared to work extended hours to handle the demanding caseload.
- The death penalty decision reflects broader public safety concerns in Washington as Pirro's office continues coordinating with law enforcement on multiple crime prevention initiatives across the District. The case underscores federal commitment to addressing violent crime amid ongoing security challenges.
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Pirro's Big Move Stuns DC Democrats - Not One of Them Expected THIS
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Friday that federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against the man accused of fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum last year. Elias Rodriguez was indicted on multiple federal charges, including terrorism-related offenses, in connection with the deaths of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. Several of the charges carry potentia…
(AFP) The Washington prosecution will demand the death penalty for the alleged assassin of two Israeli embassy employees located near a Jewish museum in the U.S. capital, according to court documents. Elias Rodriguez of Chicago was arrested and charged after having shot Yaron Lischinsky, a 30-year-old Israeli, and his 26-year-old fiancée Sarah Milgrim. The attack took place on May 21, 2025, in the midst of the war between Israel and the Hamas te…
Pirro says she is seeking death penalty for suspect in shooting of Israeli embassy staffers
Prosecutors have accused 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of allegedly killing Israeli embassy staffers Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky outside the Capital Jewish Museum last May.
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