By: Fern Sidman

Federal prosecutors on Wednesday filed sweeping new criminal charges against 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, the suspect accused of fatally shooting two Israeli embassy employees in the U.S. capital earlier this year. The enhanced charges include hate crimes and the murder of a foreign official, which federal authorities say reflect the deeply disturbing motivations behind the premeditated attack.

As reported on Wednesday by World Israel News, Rodriguez had initially been indicted for first-degree murder following the May shooting of Israeli diplomats Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, during a private embassy-hosted cultural event at a museum in Washington, D.C. The new federal charges suggest a significant escalation in the legal case, and if prosecutors are successful in demonstrating that Rodriguez acted out of antisemitic animus, he could face the death penalty.

According to the indictment unsealed Wednesday in federal court, Rodriguez traveled from his hometown of Chicago to Washington, D.C., with the express intent of attacking Israeli personnel at a high-profile diplomatic gathering. Federal investigators believe that Rodriguez, who had no personal connection to the victims, learned of the event through social media channels and planned his assault in the weeks leading up to the murders.

The indictment, reviewed by World Israel News, provides a harrowing account of the crime. It alleges that Rodriguez approached the couple from behind during the embassy’s public diplomacy event, which was held in conjunction with a Holocaust remembrance exhibition. He then opened fire, striking both Lischinsky and Milgrim in the back. As Milgrim attempted to crawl away, Rodriguez allegedly fired additional shots at close range, ensuring her death.

Both victims were rushed to George Washington University Hospital but were pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Yaron Lischinsky, originally from Tel Aviv, served as a strategic coordinator for U.S. delegations traveling to Israel. Known for his diplomatic finesse and deep understanding of U.S.-Israel relations, he had been stationed in Washington for three years. His partner, Sarah Lynn Milgrim, was a political affairs researcher at the embassy. A dual citizen with family roots in New York, she had specialized in Israeli-American bilateral relations and counterterrorism policy.

According to the information provided in the World Israel News report, the couple had recently returned from a visit to Israel and were planning to become engaged later this year. Lischinsky had reportedly purchased a ring and intended to propose to Milgrim at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

“They were two of the most brilliant and compassionate professionals we had,” an Israeli embassy official told World Israel News on condition of anonymity. “This was not just a loss for their families. This was a loss for diplomacy and decency itself.”

The criminal complaint and witness testimony paint a portrait of an attack motivated by deep-seated hatred. Multiple bystanders told investigators they heard Rodriguez yell “Free Palestine” during the shooting, and he allegedly repeated similar sentiments while being taken into custody. According to the arresting officers, Rodriguez declared: “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.”

Such statements, federal officials contend, provide the basis for the new hate crime charges. Under federal law, hate crime statutes apply to violent acts motivated by religious or national origin bias. Prosecutors also charged Rodriguez with the murder of a foreign official under Title 18 of the U.S. Code, which carries severe penalties and reflects the unique status of diplomats and foreign government employees under international law.

World Israel News reported that federal authorities were initially hesitant to comment on the motive, but mounting evidence, including social media posts and Rodriguez’s own statements, led the Department of Justice to pursue enhanced charges.

In May, just days after the killings, Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro spoke publicly about the attack, characterizing it as an act of hate. “A young couple at the beginning of their life’s journey, about to be engaged in another country, had their bodies removed in the cold of the night in a foreign city in a body bag,” Pirro said in a press briefing covered by World Israel News. “We are not going to tolerate that anymore.”

Pirro’s remarks reflected a broader federal emphasis on combating antisemitism, particularly in the wake of rising anti-Israel and anti-Jewish rhetoric in the U.S. since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.

“Antisemitism will not be tolerated, especially in the nation’s capital,” Pirro added.

The case has also prompted quiet diplomatic outreach between the United States and Israel. Israeli officials reportedly expressed deep concern over the security of their diplomatic staff and called for “swift and just” prosecution. According to the report at World Israel News, senior Israeli diplomats have remained in close contact with the U.S. Department of State and the Justice Department as the investigation progressed.

Rodriguez is currently being held without bail at the D.C. Correctional Treatment Facility. A federal judge on Wednesday denied a motion from the defense to suppress certain pre-trial statements, ruling that the suspect had knowingly waived his Miranda rights at the time of arrest.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed to World Israel News that the federal grand jury returned the superseding indictment unanimously, and that prosecutors are considering pursuing the death penalty under the federal hate crimes statute.

“The scope of the charges now reflects the severity of the offense and the targeting of diplomatic personnel in a premeditated, ideologically motivated act,” said a senior DOJ official involved in the case.

The trial is expected to begin in early 2026. Legal analysts cited by World Israel News note that the inclusion of hate crime and foreign official murder charges significantly expands the range of penalties available to the court and sets the stage for a landmark trial.

The murders have sent shockwaves through Jewish and diplomatic communities in Washington, D.C., and beyond. A memorial service was held in May at Adas Israel Congregation in the capital, attended by senior State Department officials, foreign diplomats, and members of Congress.

At the service, an embassy representative quoted from the Book of Isaiah, saying: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares… and neither shall they learn war anymore.”

Outside the Israeli embassy, a makeshift memorial still stands, with candles, flowers, and handwritten notes bearing messages of sorrow and solidarity. “Never Again is Now,” reads one sign, reflecting growing concern about the safety of Jewish communities and institutions worldwide.

This incident marks one of the most serious attacks on Israeli diplomatic personnel in the United States in recent memory. Analysts speaking to World Israel News suggest the case could have long-term implications for the way foreign diplomats are protected and how domestic law enforcement agencies respond to politically motivated violence against foreign nationals.

As the legal proceedings move forward, federal authorities and the Israeli government alike are watching closely. The outcome of this case may not only determine justice for two slain young diplomats but also set precedent for future acts of ideologically driven violence in an increasingly polarized global environment.