Federal prosecutors have filed a 13-count superseding indictment against a Chicago man accused of killing two Israeli Embassy staffers outside a Washington museum, adding terrorism-related charges that could carry the death penalty while leaving key questions about motive, evidence, and trial strategy unresolved.
The suspect, 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, is accused of opening fire on Israeli government employees as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on May 21st, killing two and wounding two others. Prosecutors now say the attack was a calculated act meant to terrorize the Jewish community, while the defense position, possible plea, and trial timeline have not yet been publicly detailed.
From Hate Crime Case to Terrorism Counts
According to Fox News, Rodriguez was initially charged in federal court with the murder of a foreign official, causing death through the use of a firearm, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The original case also included two federal counts of hate crime resulting in death, as well as local charges that included two counts each of first-degree premeditated murder while armed and assault with intent to kill while armed.
The new superseding indictment, unsealed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, adds four counts of acts of terrorism while armed, along with additional counts of first-degree murder and assault with intent to kill. The terrorism counts significantly raise the stakes, because they formally frame the shooting as an ideologically driven effort to intimidate a broader community, not only an attack on specific individuals.
Prosecutors allege that Rodriguez targeted the victims because of their roles with the Israeli government and that his actions were intended to send a message beyond the immediate scene. In the charging language, the terrorism counts signal that the government intends to argue both political motive and a broader impact on public safety and community security.
🇺🇸✡️ LOCK HIM UP: Federal prosecutors have filed new terrorism-related charges against Elias Rodriguez, the suspect accused of murdering Israeli embassy staff members Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim in Washington, DC.
The new superseding indictment includes 13 counts, among… pic.twitter.com/8tg262DRyl
— Belaaz News (@TheBelaaz) February 5, 2026
The Shooting Outside the Capital Jewish Museum
Court documents cited by Fox News state that on May 21st, Rodriguez approached two Israeli Embassy staff members, 30-year-old Yaron Lischinsky and 26-year-old Sarah Milgrim, as they were leaving a Young Diplomats Reception at the Capital Jewish Museum. Prosecutors say he fired roughly 20 rounds from a semi-automatic handgun at close range.
Both Lischinsky and Milgrim, who were in Washington on official business for the Israeli Embassy, were fatally wounded. Two other embassy workers were shot but survived, according to the same reporting. The victims were described as Israeli government employees, with Lischinsky identified as an Israeli citizen working in the United States, and Milgrim identified as an employee from Overland Park, Kansas, also assigned to the embassy.
What happened in the seconds before the shooting, including any interaction or words exchanged, has not been fully detailed in public filings beyond the general description in the indictment. There is no indication in the available reporting of any personal connection between Rodriguez and the victims.
Alleged Statements and Claimed Motive
Prosecutors say that Rodriguez made a series of statements during and after the shooting that they view as evidence of a political and ideological motive. According to the court documents summarized by Fox News, Rodriguez shouted “Free Palestine” while firing at the embassy staffers outside the museum.
After the gunfire, authorities allege, Rodriguez entered the occupied museum, produced a red keffiyeh, and declared, “I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza.” As officers moved to detain him, he allegedly continued shouting at remaining guests, including, “Shame on you,” and “Shame on Zio-nazi terror.” These statements, prosecutors argue, connect the violence to broader geopolitical grievances and are central to the terrorism allegations.
Darren Cox, the FBI assistant director in charge of the Washington Field Office, said that in addition to the shooting itself, Rodriguez allegedly “wrote and published a manifesto attempting to morally justify his actions and inspire others to commit political violence.” If produced at trial, such a document would likely become a central piece of evidence about his alleged intent and state of mind, though its full contents have not been publicly released in detail.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro stated that her office would pursue accountability, calling the incident a “horrific and targeted act of terror.” Her comment signals that prosecutors intend to argue that the victims were chosen specifically because of their role with the Israeli government and their presence at a Jewish museum event, although those claims remain to be tested in court.
Legal Stakes and Potential Penalties
With the superseding indictment, Rodriguez faces an array of overlapping charges that potentially expose him to the harshest penalties available in the federal system. Fox News reports that several of the counts carry a maximum penalty of death and a mandatory life sentence if a death sentence is not imposed.
For the terrorism counts, prosecutors will have to prove not only that Rodriguez carried out the shooting and caused the deaths, but also that he did so with a qualifying intent, such as intimidating or coercing a civilian population or influencing government policy through violence. The alleged statements at the scene and the alleged manifesto are likely to be central to that argument.
At this stage, there is no public indication that the Department of Justice has formally decided whether to seek the death penalty. In capital-eligible cases, that decision typically follows an internal review process and consultation within the department. If the government signals an intent to pursue capital punishment, that step would further lengthen and complicate the case.
What Remains Unanswered
Key procedural details remain unclear based on the available reporting. The superseding indictment sets out the charges, but public filings have not yet clarified Rodriguez’s full plea posture in response to the terrorism counts, any anticipated defenses, or whether mental health evaluations will play a role.
There is also no publicly reported trial date, and the timeline for pretrial motions, including any challenges to the admissibility of the alleged manifesto or statements at the museum, has not yet come into focus. Defense attorneys could contest how those statements are interpreted, whether they were made voluntarily, and how much weight a jury should give them in understanding motive.
For now, the case stands at a critical procedural point: a 13-count indictment that reframes a deadly shooting as alleged terrorism, a set of victims whose identities link the attack to international diplomacy, and a potential penalty structure that includes death-eligible charges. How the court, the defense, and the public ultimately assess the government’s evidence and terrorism theory remains an open question.
Sources
- Fox News: Feds File Sweeping Terrorism Charges Against Suspect in Deadly DC Ambush Outside Israeli Embassy Staffers at Museum
