Both federal and local Washington, DC criminal charges have been filed against Elias Rodriguez, the self-admitted murderer of two Israeli embassy officials, in the US District Court for the District of Columbia. Federal charges against Rodriguez include murder of foreign officials, causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. He is also facing two counts of first-degree murder in DC.

FBI Special Agent Christina Hagenbaugh submitted an affidavit in support of those charges that "expose the depravity and callousness of the murders," according to attorney Marina Medvin. Medvin added, "He didn't just kill Sarah and Yaron- he made sure to finish them. He followed Sarah as she crawled away in agony after he shot her. He followed her and shot her again. He shot her from the back. He executed her in cold blood."

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Hagenbaugh and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers reviewed surveillance footage of the exterior of the Capital Jewish Museum from immediately before and during the shooting. According to the footage, Rodriguez shot Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim in the back as they prepared to cross the street. 

Lischinsky, identified as Decedent-2 in the affidavit, was declared dead at the scene. Milgrim, identified as Decedent-1 in the affidavit, was not killed immediately; Rodriguez shot her again as she attempted to crawl away, and then again after he stopped to reload his firearm. A total of 21 expended 9mm cartridge casings were recovered.

In summary, the video shows a slim build person, wearing a blue jacket with a hood, a large dark-colored backpack, blue pants, and light-colored shoes, consistent with the clothing worn by RODRIGUEZ, walking across F Street, Northwest, in the direction of the Museum and where the decedents were standing preparing to enter the crosswalk. Once RODRIGUEZ walked past the decedents and two witnesses, he turned to face their backs and brandished a firearm from the area of his waistband. RODRIGUEZ is captured on the video extending both his arms in the direction of the decedents and firing several times as indicated by the muzzle flashes.

Once the decedents fell to the ground, RODRIGUEZ is captured on the video advancing closer to the decedents, leaning over them with his arm extended, and firing several more times. As Decedent-1 attempted to crawl away from RODRIGUEZ, he followed behind her and fired again. After a brief moment, RODRIGUEZ appeared to reload his firearm. At the same time, Decedent-1 sat up. Once he reloaded, RODRIGUEZ fired several times at Decedent-1. RODRIGUEZ is then captured jogging back in the direction of 3rd Street, NW, and southbound in the direction of where the entrance to the Museum is located.

The affidavit states that Rodriguez purchased the gun used in the murders in Illinois on March 6, 2020, and transported it in his checked baggage when he flew from Chicago to Reagan National Airport in Virginia on May 20, 2025.

When Rodriguez was interviewed by agents, after waiving his Miranda rights he "expressed admiration for the actions of an individual who self-immolated in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C. on February 25, 2024, as a form of protest intended to draw attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict" and labeled that man a "martyr." Prior to that interview, according to MPD officers, Rodriguez stated, "I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza. I am unarmed."

Read the entire affidavit below.

Elias Rodriguez Criminal Affidavit by Jennifer Van Laar on Scribd

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