Elias Rodriguez, accused of fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, reportedly confessed to officers shortly after the attack, saying, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” according to federal court filings.
As law enforcement led him out of the museum where the shooting occurred, Rodriguez shouted, “Free Palestine,” according to an affidavit submitted by FBI agents.
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators revealed that Rodriguez initially walked past the victims outside the Capital Jewish Museum. He then turned back, drew a handgun from his waistband, and opened fire, shooting both victims in the back, the affidavit states.
The court documents say that after both victims collapsed, Rodriguez approached and continued firing. One of the victims, Sarah Milgrim, was seen on video trying to crawl away before briefly sitting up. As Rodriguez reloaded, he shot her again, according to what the footage showed.
Authorities recovered 21 shell casings from the scene along with a 9mm pistol. Investigators later confirmed the weapon matched one that Rodriguez had legally purchased in Illinois in 2020. He transported the gun in his checked luggage on a flight from Chicago to Virginia, according to the affidavit.
During his subsequent questioning, Rodriguez told authorities he looked up to Aaron Bushnell, an anti-Israel protester who set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in 2024. He referred to Bushnell as a “martyr.” Rodriguez also mentioned that he had purchased a ticket to the museum event about three hours before it began.
{Matzav.com}