[By Guancha Observer, Wang Yi] According to a May 22 report by Fox News, the suspect Elias Rodriguez (Elias Rodriguez), who shot and killed two employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC the previous night outside the Jewish Museum, may face the death penalty at most.

Court documents show that the 31-year-old Rodriguez has been charged with murder of a foreign official, discharging a firearm resulting in death, violent shooting, and first-degree murder. Fox News reported that if convicted on two of these charges, Rodriguez could face the death penalty. Under Washington DC law, the minimum sentence for first-degree murder is 30 years in prison, while the maximum is life imprisonment. Murder of a foreign official is also a federal felony, with a maximum penalty of death.

It was reported that Rodriguez waived his right to a detention hearing and remains in custody without bail, awaiting trial. He is scheduled to attend a preliminary hearing in court on June 18.

"May exacerbate divisions between American Israel supporters and pro-Palestinian demonstrators"

On the evening of May 21, two employees of the Israeli Embassy in the US were shot dead near the White House, just about two kilometers away from the Capital Jewish Museum after attending an event there. The male victim, Yaron Lischinsky, held German and Israeli citizenship and was granted the status of "official guest" by the US Department of State; the female victim, Sarah Lynn Milgrim, worked in the public diplomacy department of the Israeli Embassy in the US.

Surveillance video showed that a suspect wearing a blue hooded jacket and pants, carrying a dark backpack, approached them from behind as they were about to enter the crosswalk. Investigators stated that Rodriguez fired a 9mm pistol without provocation.

After the two victims fell, Rodriguez approached and continued shooting. Milgrim attempted to crawl away, but after Rodriguez reloaded and fired again at her, he fled toward the Jewish Museum.

About ten minutes later, police arrived at the scene and found 21 shell casings, an empty pistol, and a discarded magazine. Around 9 p.m., police arrested Rodriguez. He did not resist arrest but shouted, "I did it, I did it for Palestine, for Gaza," "Free Palestine."

On May 22 local time, a Jewish non-profit organization cleaned up the bloodstains at the crime scene. Reuters

Rodriguez is believed to have acted alone. Court documents show that the weapon he used was purchased legally in Illinois in 2020 and transported via compliant baggage services to fly with him from Chicago to Washington. Rodriguez stated that he bought tickets to the Jewish Museum event three hours before the shooting.

Jeanine Pirro, acting prosecutor of Washington DC, stated at a press conference on May 22 that the local community was "shocked" by Rodriguez's actions. He has now been indicted and faces multiple charges including first-degree murder, constituting a "death-penalty eligible case."

Reuters reported on May 23 that this shooting incident might exacerbate the polarization between supporters of Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators in American society. Supporters of Israel under Trump's conservative administration characterized pro-Palestinian protests as "anti-Semitism" and detained protesters without charges during his administration. His government also cut funding to elite American universities allowing demonstrations.

Following the shooting incident, Trump condemned it in a post on his self-created social media platform "Truth Social," stating, "These terrible killings in Washington are clearly based on anti-Semitism and must end," "Hatred and radicalism have no place in America."

Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu also expressed shock over this "terrorist anti-Semitic shooting incident." He posted on the X platform, claiming, "We are witnessing the terrible price of anti-Semitism and the insane incitement against Israel," and emphasized that we must "do our utmost to fight these two phenomena."

Suspect involved in protest activities for a long time

An investigation by The New York Times found that suspect Rodriguez was born and raised in Chicago, attended the University of Illinois at Chicago from 2016 to 2018, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree. He currently resides in a diverse community in the northern part of Chicago, surrounded by friends and family, living a typical life of a young professional with a college education in Chicago.

However, he has become increasingly active in politics, posting on social media and participating in demonstrations opposing Israel's war in Gaza, opposing large corporations, and opposing racism.

In 2017, he was photographed outside the home of former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a Jew, wearing a checkered shirt and holding a sign reading "Money for people's needs, not Amazon" during a protest organized by the anti-war and anti-racism coalition "Alliance for National Solidarity" (ANSWER Coalition) to protest Chicago officials' attempt to persuade Amazon to establish a second headquarters in the city.

In a web article condemning local officials, Rodriguez also said, "The wealth brought to Seattle by Amazon has not been shared with black residents. Do we want a country made up of cities dominated by big companies, where only the rich and whites can live, while the vast majority of us must live on the fringes of cities and society, living in increasing poverty?"

In recent years, Rodriguez has repeatedly spoken out publicly for Palestinians, protesting Israel's military actions in Gaza. A social media account belonging to Rodriguez, verified by The New York Times, posted a message titled "Gaza Escalation, Bringing War Home" on the 21st, condemning Israel and the US government, as well as the atrocities committed by the Israeli military against Palestinians.

Window of the suspect's apartment in Chicago, foreign media

On May 22, according to photos taken by foreign media of the windows of Rodriguez's apartment in Chicago, there were two signs related to Palestine on his window, one of which displayed an image of a Palestinian-American boy from Illinois who was stabbed to death by his landlord in 2023.

Fox News also reported that Rodriguez expressed admiration for Aaron Bushnell, an American Air Force protester who set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in the US in 2024, praising this act as brave and referring to this person as a "martyr."

This article is an exclusive contribution by Guancha Observer and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7507524014492729866/

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