DC Terror: Alleged shooter makes first court appearance, does not enter plea

Elias Rodriguez, the suspected perpetrator in the murder of two Israeli embassy officials, made his first official court appearance on Thursday just hours after he was formally charged in the case.

Rodriguez allegedly killed Israeli embassy staffers Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night. He now faces five charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, murder of foreign officials and causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm.

Rodriguez, who waived his detention hearing and will remain in prison until his next hearing on June 18, did not enter a plea during his arraignment, NBC News reported.

Federal agents claimed in a criminal complaint that Rodriguez turned himself in to the police at the museum on Wednesday night, and repeatedly stated "free Palestine," during the attack. He also claimed he "did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed." 

Agents said Rodriguez appeared to admire a U.S. Air Force member who lit himself on fire last year outside the Israeli embassy as a means to protest the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. He also shouted "Free Palestine" while on fire and later died.

The criminal complaint also alleged Rodriguez, who was dressed in a blue jacket at the time of the shooting, fired multiple shots at the couple, even after they were already on the ground. Milgrim allegedly tried to escape but he followed and killed her. 

It is not clear how many times each victim was shot, but forensic investigators recovered 21 bullets on the scene.

Media reports have indicated that the suspect also made anti-American posts online, which the FBI is still working to verify. The messages included calls for "death to Israel," "death to [America]," and one post claimed he voted for Hamas. 

Federal authorities said they are still investigating the shooting, which is considered an antisemitic hate crime and has been labeled an "act of terror."

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.