The person accused of killing two Israeli Embassy staff members exterior the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., has been charged with two counts of first-degree homicide, homicide of international officers and different counts.
The suspect has been recognized as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago. He’s additionally charged with inflicting the dying of an individual by means of the usage of a firearm and discharge of a firearm throughout against the law of violence. He was anticipated to be in court docket Thursday, a Justice Division supply informed CBS News.
The capturing is being investigated as a hate crime and terrorism, and extra fees might come, U.S. Lawyer for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro stated at a information convention Thursday afternoon. Authorities have stated the assault was focused.
“It is a horrific crime, and these crimes should not going to be tolerated by me and my workplace,” Pirro stated.
Steven Jensen, assistant director accountable for the FBI’s Washington subject workplace; Metropolitan Police Division Chief Pamela Smith; and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser additionally spoke on the information convention.
The victims had been recognized as two workers on the Israeli Embassy in Washington, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. informed reporters they had been a younger couple who had been set to be engaged.
The capturing occurred because the couple was leaving an occasion Wednesday evening on the museum, which is positioned close to the FBI’s subject workplace in D.C.
Smith informed reporters Thursday that there can be “an elevated presence of legislation enforcement officers across the group,” together with round faith-based organizations and faculties.
Authorities stated the suspect was seen pacing forwards and backwards exterior the museum earlier than the capturing. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith informed reporters the suspect then approached a gaggle of 4 folks, pulled out a handgun and opened fireplace. The suspect then went into the museum and was detained by occasion safety.
A lady who encountered the suspect after the capturing stated he reached into his bag, pulled out a keffiyeh and stated, “I did it. I did it for Gaza,” earlier than he shouted, “Free Palestine.”
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Scott MacFarlane and
contributed to this report.