Israeli embassy couple shooting suspect 'fired repeatedly after victims fell to the ground'
The man suspected of murdering two Israeli embassy workers in Washington DC shot at the victims repeatedly after they fell to the ground, the FBI has said.
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The man suspected of murdering two Israeli embassy workers in Washington DC shot at the victims repeatedly after they fell to the ground, the FBI has said.
Elias Rodriguez, 30, from Chicago, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and the murder of foreign officials after the shooting of Israeli embassy staff member Yaron Lischinsky and his girlfriend Sarah Milgrim.
The couple, who were set to get engaged next week, had left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night when they were allegedly gunned down by the suspect.
When he was arrested, Rodriquez was filmed chanting "free, free Palestine" and reportedly told police: "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed."
Surveillance footage seen by the FBI is also alleged to show Rodriguez passing the couple after they left a Young Diplomats event and shooting them in the back from "close range".
According to the prosecutors charging document, the footage then shows him leaning over the couple and firing at them several more times after they fell to the ground.
Ms Milgrim then attempts to crawl away, but the suspected gunman "followed behind her and fired again", the charging document says.
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Rodriquez is then accused of reloading his weapon and firing at Ms Milgrim as she sat up.
He then jogged to the museum and asked to speak to a police officer, who he told that he "did it" and that he was unarmed.
Speaking on Thursday night, Steve Jenson, from the FBI in Washington, said the killings were "both an act of terror and directed violence against the Jewish community."
He added the FBI is aware of "writings" by the suspect and is investigating the contents of them.
Elias Rodriguez is believed to have travelled to DC for a work conference, the FBI added.
Tributes have been paid online to the young couple 'in the prime of their lives' who worked as staff at the Israeli embassy.
"Yaron and Sarah were our friends and colleagues. They were in the prime of their lives," an online tribute states.
"This evening, a terrorist shot and killed them as they exited an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in DC.
"The entire embassy staff is heartbroken and devastated by their murder. No words can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss.
"Our hearts are with their families, and the embassy will be by their side during this terrible time."
US President Donald Trump has condemned the attack.He said: “These horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, now!
"Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the shooting as "anti-Semitic."
He posted online: "Horrified by the killing of two Israeli Embassy staff in DC.
"We condemn this appalling, antisemitic crime.
"Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and colleagues at this awful time."
In the wake of the shooting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Sir Keir Starmer of being "on the wrong side of history" after he condemned Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza, which has killed at least 53,000 people - the vast majority women and children.
The Israeli Prime Minister attacked Sir Keir's recent comments after he released a joint statement alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney.
Mr Netanyahu said: "I could never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada, and others. They're now proposing to establish a Palestinian state and reward these murderers with the ultimate prize.
"Well, for 18 years, we had a de facto Palestinian state. It's called Gaza. And what did we get? Peace? No, we got the most savage slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust.
"You won't be surprised to learn that Hamas thanked President Macron and Prime Minister Starmer and Carney for demanding that Israel end its war in Gaza immediately.
"Hamas was right to thank them, because by issuing their demand, replete with a threat of sanctions against Israel, against Israel, not Hamas, these three leaders effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power.
"They want Israel to stand down and accept that Hamas's army of mass murderers will survive, rebuild, and repeat the October 7th massacre again and again and again. Because that's what Hamas has vowed to do."
Mr Netanyahu went on to address the world leaders directly.
He said: "I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney, and Prime Minister Starmer, when mass murderers, rapists, baby killers, and kidnappers thank you, you're on the wrong side of justice, you're on the wrong side of humanity, and you're on the wrong side of history."