Federal prosecutors have unsealed a detailed indictment against Elias Rodriguez, charging him with nearly ten offenses, including premeditated murder and hate crimes resulting in death.
The charges are in connection with the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers earlier this year in Washington, D.C.
According to the indictment, Rodriguez is accused of targeting Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim based on antisemitic motives. The shooting occurred outside the Capital Jewish Museum on May 21, following an event attended by the victims.
Prosecutors allege that Rodriguez approached them as they were preparing to leave and opened fire, striking both individuals before continuing to shoot as they lay on the ground.
Surveillance footage referenced in the indictment reportedly captures the attack. Prosecutors claim that Milgrim attempted to crawl away but was followed by Rodriguez, who reloaded his weapon and fired again after she tried to sit up.
Rodriguez has been in federal custody since his arrest. He has not yet entered a plea in court.
The case could mark a rare instance of the federal death penalty being pursued in Washington, D.C., a jurisdiction without capital punishment at the local level. The Justice Department now has legal clearance to seek the death penalty, citing aggravating factors in the nature of the crime.
Federal authorities face the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that Rodriguez acted out of religious hatred rather than political motivation—an essential requirement for a hate crimes conviction. Prosecutors acknowledged that Rodriguez made several statements both at the scene and online condemning Israeli military operations in Gaza. Upon arrest, he reportedly told officers, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.”
The indictment references online writings allegedly authored by Rodriguez, including a message from May 2024 that stated, “please please please god please vaporize every Israeli 18 and above so these kids have some chance at being human.” He is also accused of preparing a document tied to the Gaza conflict, scheduled to post automatically after the attack, in which he allegedly declared, “rhetoric has not amounted to much.”
Prosecutors argue that the method by which Milgrim was killed qualifies as “especially heinous, cruel, and depraved,” supporting the pursuit of capital punishment under federal law. If Rodriguez is convicted, the Justice Department would still need court approval to formally seek the death penalty—a move that could set a legal precedent in the District.
