A man facing charges for the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington, D.C., last year has been indicted with four additional counts of terrorism, according to a newly unsealed indictment on Wednesday.
The new indictment, which now totals nine charges including hate crimes, carries severe penalties such as death or life imprisonment, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro emphasized that the act was indeed an act of terror, with the additional terrorism-related charges mandating a life sentence under D.C. Code.
The accused, Elias Rodriguez, 31, allegedly opened fire on attendees leaving an event organized by the American Jewish Committee, targeting young professionals and diplomats. During the incident, he discharged about 20 rounds from a semi-automatic handgun and shouted “Free Palestine,” prosecutors reported.
The victims, Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, both affiliated with the Israeli Embassy in Washington, lost their lives in the attack.
Rodriguez’s legal representatives have not provided comments on the matter so far. The FBI assistant director in charge of the Washington field office, Darren B. Cox, revealed that Rodriguez had penned and distributed a manifesto to rationalize his actions and potentially incite others to engage in political violence.
The shooting incident, widely condemned by global leaders, occurred against the backdrop of heightened tensions, including student protests, in the U.S. concerning the conflict in Gaza.
The violence in Gaza was triggered by Hamas’s attack on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in numerous casualties on both sides. The Israeli military operation that ensued claimed the lives of over 470 soldiers, while Gaza health authorities reported more than 70,000 Palestinian fatalities since the conflict’s onset.
The FBI has categorized the shooting as a targeted antisemitic terror attack, with the suspect’s affiliation to Chicago and his declaration of “free Palestine” during the arrest adding to the gravity of the incident.