On the night of May 21, 2025, Elias Rodríguez, a 30-year-old resident of Chicago, was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. The victims, identified as Yaron Lisinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were attending a Young Diplomats event organized by the American Jewish Committee at the time of the attack. The Times of India+2@EconomicTimes+2The US Sun+2The US Sun

Rodríguez allegedly approached the group of four individuals and opened fire, killing Lisinsky and Milgrim. Witnesses reported that Rodríguez shouted “Free Palestine” and “I did it for Gaza” during his arrest, suggesting a possible political or ideological motive behind the attack. The US Sun+2@EconomicTimes+2Diario AS+2

The FBI and other federal agencies are investigating the incident, though authorities have not yet determined whether it constitutes an act of terrorism. Rodríguez reportedly had no prior criminal record. Diario AS

In response to the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered heightened global security measures for Israeli diplomats. U.S. leaders, including former President Donald Trump, have condemned the act as antisemitic terrorism, expressing concern over the increasing political violence in the country. The US Sun+1The Times of India+1

The victims were described by Israel’s U.S. embassy as beloved colleagues, with Ambassador Yechiel Leiter sharing that Lisinsky had intended to propose in Jerusalem. The US Sun

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the full extent of Rodríguez’s affiliations and motivations. The incident has raised concerns about safety and political tensions related to international conflicts spilling over into the United States. Diario AS@EconomicTimes