**Suspect Charged with Hate Crime and Murder in Shooting of Israeli Embassy Couple**
A suspect has been charged with hate crimes and murder in the first degree in connection with the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington D.C. in May. The US Department of Justice has filed legal findings in conjunction with a nine-count federal criminal indictment of Elias Rodriguez, 31.
According to prosecutors, Mr. Rodriguez shot at Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim outside the Capital Jewish Museum before shouting “Free Palestine” during his arrest. The defendant, who has been in federal custody since his arrest, has not yet entered a plea before the court.
**Prosecutors Claim Suspect Expressed Support for Violence Against Israelis**
Prosecutors claim that Mr. Rodriguez expressed support for violence towards Israelis in social media posts, where he wrote “Death To Israel.” They also allege that he traveled from Chicago to Washington D.C. on May 20 with his handgun and attended an event at the Capital Jewish Museum on May 21, sponsored by the American Jewish Committee.
As Mr. Lischinsky and Ms. Milgrim were leaving the museum, the attacker allegedly fired 20 shots and told police on the scene: “I’ve done it for Palestine.” I did it for Gaza.”
**Israeli Ambassador Pays Tribute to Victims**
The Israeli Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, paid tribute to the victims, saying that Mr. Lischinsky had just bought an engagement ring and was planning to propose to Ms. Milgrim next week in Jerusalem.
Prosecutors say Mr. Rodriguez wrote a document called “explication” in which he expressed his support for Palestine and claimed Israel was trying to exterminate Palestinians. In the charging documents, prosecutors detailed Mr. Rodriguez’s qualification for the death sentence, including that he was older than 18 and had allegedly murdered the victims after considerable planning.
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