The Justice Department is considering the death penalty for Elias Rodriguez, the suspect accused of fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staff members during a hate crime in Washington, D.C. Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, announced that the department is evaluating the possibility of seeking the death penalty as part of the legal proceedings against Rodriguez.
Rodriguez faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder under D.C.’s criminal code, in addition to previous charges related to the murder of a foreign official and the use of a firearm during a crime of violence. The DOJ has stated that several of the charges in the indictment carry the maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment, and the final decision on whether to pursue the death penalty will be made by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Court documents provide detailed accounts of the tragic incident, revealing that Sarah Milgrim, who was critically injured, was seen on video attempting to crawl away from Rodriguez after being shot multiple times. The suspect reportedly followed her and fired again, and continued to fire at her as she sat up before reloading his firearm. Piero stated that the suspect’s actions were particularly cruel, emphasizing that Milgrim was ‘particularly vulnerable due to infirmity.’
The attack took place on May 22 at an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee at the Capital Jewish Museum, where Milgrim and Lischinsky were outside the venue when the shooting occurred. Rodriguez allegedly entered the museum after the fatal shots were fired and pulled out a red keffeyeh, a Palestinian scarf, before declaring, ‘I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza.’
Pirro, during a news conference, reiterated that the office would pursue justice for the innocent victims of Elias Rodriguez, stating that no stone would be left unturned in the effort to bring the suspect to justice. However, she declined to provide specific details about the suspect’s actions, stating that they would be revealed during the trial.
While the DOJ has weighed the possibility of the death penalty, the final decision will be made by Attorney General Bondi. The case has raised questions about the nature of the suspect’s motivations and the broader implications of domestic violence and hate crimes in the United States. This is a developing story, and further updates are expected as the legal proceedings unfold.