DOJ adds hate-crime, first-degree murder charges to defendant in death of Israeli embassy couple

The Justice Department announced Thursday that it has added first-degree murder and hate-crime charges against the Chicago man accused of killing two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C., in May.

Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, previously was charged with the murder of a foreign official, causing death through the use of a firearm, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. 

He has now also been charged with two counts of first-degree murder under the D.C. criminal code and two federal counts of hate crime resulting in death and two local counts of assault with intent to kill while armed.

The victims were Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who were dating and planning to get married.

“This office will leave no stone unturned in its effort to bring justice to the innocent victims of Elias Rodriguez,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said in a press release Thursday announcing the additional charges. “The hate charges shed further light on his evil intent in the killing of innocent victims.”

The case is currently being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“This Justice Department will not tolerate violence motivated by hatred of faith or national origin, and we will enforce our federal civil rights laws accordingly,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said.