Man who shot two 'Israelis' in D.C. charged with first-degree murder

US authorities on Thursday formally charged Elias Rodriguez, 31, with first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of two 'Israeli' embassy employees outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C..

According to court documents, Rodriguez shouted “Free Palestine” as he was arrested by police late Wednesday night at the scene of the shooting. He later told officers, “I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi, who visited the crime scene Thursday, said, “Based on what we know, he acted alone,” according to Agence France-Presse.

Rodriguez, a Chicago native, made his first court appearance Thursday, facing charges of first-degree murder and the killing of foreign officials. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. Prosecutors said the shooting is being investigated as both a terrorist act and a hate crime.

“We anticipate additional charges as the investigation progresses,” said Janine Pirro, the acting US Attorney for the District of Columbia. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 18.

The shooting occurred at 9:00 p.m. local time Wednesday, just outside the Capital Jewish Museum in downtown Washington, not far from the Capitol and the White House. At the time, the American Jewish Committee was hosting a nearby event.

The 'Israeli' embassy confirmed the victims as 28-year-old Yaron Lischinsky, an 'Israeli'-German national, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, a Jewish American staff member at the embassy.