On a warm May evening in Washington, DC, tragedy struck outside the Capital Jewish Museum, shaking both the local community and international observers. Two Israeli embassy staffers, Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, were gunned down as they left a networking event, their futures cruelly snatched away in an instant. The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, a 31-year-old from Chicago, now faces nine federal counts, including hate crimes and first-degree murder—charges that could ultimately carry the death penalty if prosecutors choose to pursue it, according to US authorities.
The events unfolded swiftly on May 21, 2025. Lischinsky and Milgrim, a couple deeply involved in both their diplomatic work and with each other, had just attended a gathering hosted by the American Jewish Committee. The event was meant to foster connections among young Jewish professionals and members of the diplomatic corps. Instead, it ended in horror. Rodriguez, who had traveled from Chicago the previous day, had meticulously planned the attack. Prosecutors allege he researched the event, purchased a ticket only hours before it began, and brought a handgun in his checked luggage, as reported by multiple outlets including BBC and NBC News.
Surveillance footage later revealed the chilling sequence: Rodriguez pacing outside the museum, then approaching a group of four people before opening fire. Witnesses described him advancing toward Lischinsky and Milgrim as they fell, leaning over to fire additional shots, and reloading before fleeing. In total, roughly 20 rounds were discharged. The chaos outside was initially unnoticed by those still inside the museum, who were unaware that a deadly ambush had just occurred at their doorstep.
Moments later, Rodriguez entered the museum, appearing distressed. Some attendees, including Katie Kalisher, recalled thinking he needed help. “We thought he needed help. We gave him water,” Kalisher told the BBC. Only later did the gravity of the situation become clear: the man they tried to comfort had just committed a heinous act of violence. Police arrived quickly, detaining Rodriguez while he shouted, “I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza.” As he was led away, he continued to chant, “Free, free Palestine.”
The motive for the attack, according to federal authorities, was rooted in antisemitic hatred. Court documents reveal that Rodriguez had posted disturbing messages online, including “Death to Israel,” and drafted a document titled “Explication,” in which he accused Israel of attempting to “exterminate Palestinians.” Prosecutors argue that the attack was not only premeditated but also meticulously orchestrated, noting that Rodriguez’s age, his acquisition of a handgun, and his prior expressions of violent intent meet the criteria for the Justice Department to seek the death penalty.
The indictment against Rodriguez includes notice of special findings, a procedural step that enables the pursuit of capital punishment. Authorities are also investigating whether the shooting qualifies as a terror attack under US law, in addition to being prosecuted as a hate crime. Rodriguez had no prior police interactions and had been employed at the American Osteopathic Information Association since 2024, according to BBC Verify. This lack of a criminal record has left many searching for answers as to how such a calculated act could have been carried out without earlier warning signs.
The loss of Lischinsky and Milgrim has reverberated far beyond Washington. The Israeli Embassy confirmed both were employees, describing them as being in the “prime of their lives.” Their personal story only deepens the heartbreak: the couple had been together for over a year and a half and were due to travel to Israel, where Lischinsky planned to propose to Milgrim in Jerusalem. He had already purchased the engagement ring. Israeli Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, shared the devastating news, stating, “They were a beautiful couple.” The emotional toll was clear as he added, “Instead of walking you down the aisle, we are walking with you to your graves.”
Other Israeli officials echoed the grief and outrage. Tal Naim, an Israeli diplomat and spokesperson, posted on social media, “Just this morning, we were still laughing together by the coffee corner — and now, all that remains is a picture.” The sense of loss is palpable, not just for the families and friends of the victims, but for a diplomatic community already on edge amid rising global tensions.
The political response was swift and forceful. US President Donald Trump, posting on Truth Social, called the killings “obviously based on antisemitism” and demanded an end to hatred and radicalism. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke personally with the victims’ families and promised tighter security at Israeli embassies around the world. “My heart aches for the families… we are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and wild incitement against the state of Israel,” Netanyahu said. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also attributed the attack to rising antisemitic rhetoric, particularly in the wake of Israel’s military actions in Gaza following the Hamas-led October 7 attacks, and criticized European leaders and organizations for their role in fueling such sentiments.
The shooting has intensified concerns about the safety of Jewish institutions across the United States. The Capital Jewish Museum, located in a bustling area surrounded by government offices and tourist attractions, was placed on lockdown after the attack. Streets were closed, and a heavy police presence remained well into the evening. Beatrice Gurwitz, the museum’s executive director, spoke to NBC News just days before the incident about a growing “climate of fear.” The museum had recently secured a grant to upgrade security, prompted in part by a new exhibit on LGBTQ+ pride and broader worries about escalating antisemitism. “Institutions like ours are taking every precaution they can,” Gurwitz said, underlining the pervasive anxiety that has gripped Jewish communities nationwide.
As details continue to emerge, a fuller picture of Rodriguez’s mindset has come to light. Court documents indicate he told detectives that he admired an active-duty Air Force member who set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in February 2024, describing the man as “courageous” and a “martyr.” Such statements have only added to the sense of alarm among authorities and the public alike.
The investigation remains ongoing, with federal prosecutors preparing to prove Rodriguez’s motivation was antisemitic in nature. The outcome of the trial could set significant precedents regarding the prosecution of hate crimes and acts of politically motivated violence in the United States. For now, the community mourns the loss of two promising lives and grapples with the sobering reality of a world where hatred can still erupt into tragedy, even in the heart of the nation’s capital.
In the aftermath, the names Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim stand as a stark reminder of the cost of intolerance and the enduring need for vigilance and compassion in a troubled world.