The Department of Justice is seeking the death penalty against Elias Rodriguez, 31, accused of murdering two Israeli Embassy staff members in broad daylight outside a Jewish museum in the nation's capital.

The filing landed Friday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

What Happened

On May 21, 2025, Rodriguez allegedly opened fire on Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, as they left a young professionals' event hosted by the American Jewish Committee at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

Lischinsky was an Israeli citizen working at the Israeli Embassy. Milgrim was an American. According to the Hartford Courant, the two were a couple and were about to get engaged.

Rodriguez shouted "Free Palestine" during his arrest. He later told police, "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza," according to his indictment, as reported by the Associated Press.

What Prosecutors Are Charging

According to JNS, prosecutors allege Rodriguez carried out "substantial planning and premeditation" to kill the victims and commit an act of terrorism. The filing states his actions were driven by "political, ideological, national and religious bias, contempt and hatred."

The government is seeking death on three of the 13 total charges: murder of a foreign official, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and causing death through the use of a firearm. He is also facing hate crime and terrorism charges.

Rodriguez has pleaded not guilty.

The Death Penalty Decision

Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, announced the decision at a news conference Friday.

"My message to anyone who seeks to commit political violence in this district — D.C. is not the place. You will be held accountable and you will face the full wrath of the law," Pirro said, according to the Associated Press.

She also stated: "My office will not rest in our efforts to hold Elias Rodriguez accountable for this horrific, and targeted act of terror against Yaron Lischinsky, Sarah Milgrim and our Jewish community," as reported by BBC News.

The death penalty decision aligns with President Donald Trump's reinvigorated use of federal capital punishment — reversing the policy of former President Joe Biden, who had sharply limited its use, according to BBC News.

Related Arrests

The Rodriguez case arrived alongside the arrest of Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, a Kataib Hezbollah commander accused of plotting attacks on Jewish sites in New York City. According to the New York Times, Al-Saadi is accused of leading attacks in Europe as part of an Iranian retaliation campaign. Kataib Hezbollah was founded after the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and has been backed by Iran's Quds Force. The organization has been designated a foreign terrorist organization since 2009.

The Case Ahead

Prosecutors allege Rodriguez wrote "Death to Israel" in social media posts made before the shooting, according to BBC News. They also contend he targeted the specific Jewish community event to "amplify the effect of his crimes," according to JNS.

The hate crime charges require prosecutors to prove antisemitic motivation — a case built substantially on Rodriguez's own statements to police at the scene and afterward.