The Chicago man accused of killing two Israeli Embassy workers in Washington, D.C., continued firing on one of many victims at the same time as she tried to crawl away from him, federal authorities mentioned Thursday.
And when police arrived, he allegedly instructed them, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.”
That’s in response to a six-page FBI affidavit supporting federal prison costs in opposition to Elias Rodriguez, 31. He’s charged with the first-degree homicide of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, who had been leaving an occasion on the Capital Jewish Museum.
Rodriguez was additionally charged with the homicide of international officers, inflicting the loss of life of an individual by means of using a firearm, and discharge of a firearm throughout a criminal offense of violence.
Jeanine Pirro, the highest federal prosecutor within the nation’s capital, referred to as the case “loss of life penalty eligible” throughout a press convention Thursday afternoon.
The FBI affidavit says Rodriguez traveled Tuesday from O’Hare Airport to Reagan Nationwide Airport. Police recognized him on the museum utilizing his Illinois driver’s license and Firearm Proprietor’s Identification card.
Rodriguez bought a 9mm handgun, which was discovered close to the scene of the taking pictures, on March 6, 2020, in Illinois, authorities say.
The taking pictures was caught on surveillance video, in response to the feds’ affidavit. It alleged that Rodriguez walked by the victims, turned to face their backs, brandished a gun from his waistband and opened hearth.
When the victims fell to the bottom, Rodriguez allegedly walked nearer, leaned over them along with his arm prolonged and continued firing. As Milgrim tried to crawl away, Rodriguez allegedly adopted behind her and continued firing.
Finally, Rodriguez appeared to cease and reload his gun, in response to the affidavit. That’s when Milgrim sat up. However as soon as he reloaded, Rodriguez allegedly opened hearth on her once more earlier than operating away, in response to the affidavit.
When Metropolitan police arrived, they entered the museum to ask about cameras and witnesses, in response to the affidavit. That’s when Rodriguez allegedly requested to talk with an officer.
Rodriguez allegedly instructed police he “did it” and was unarmed. He additionally allegedly mentioned, “I did it for Palestine.” As police escorted him from the museum, he allegedly shouted “Free Palestine!”
Throughout a later police interview, Rodriguez allegedly expressed admiration for a person who set himself on hearth in entrance of the Israeli Embassy on Feb. 25, 2024.
In the meantime, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino mentioned authorities had been working to corroborate unspecified “writings allegedly authored” by Rodriguez, an obvious reference to a doc circulating on-line expressing anger over Israel’s conduct within the warfare in Gaza.
That doc, posted on the social media website X, refers to “atrocities dedicated by the Israelis in opposition to Palestine” and discusses the necessity for “accountability.”
The submit doesn’t explicitly reference a taking pictures.
As of Thursday afternoon, federal officers mentioned they had been “actively investigating” the writings, however The New York Instances stories that it has confirmed the social media account belongs to Rodriguez.
