WASHINGTON — The suspect accused of gunning down two Israeli embassy staffers outside a museum in Washington in May has been indicted on federal hate crime and murder charges, according to court documents unsealed Aug. 6.
The nine-count indictment, filed in federal court in Washington, returned against Elias Rodriguez, 31, accuses him of carrying out a hate crime resulting in death motivated by the "actual and perceived national origin of any person." Rodriguez also faces charges of first-degree murder and murder of a foreign official.
The indictment includes special findings that would make Rodriguez eligible for the death penalty if convicted. The indictment by a federal grand jury comes ahead of a scheduled court appearance in Rodriguez’s case on Aug. 8.
Rodriguez was accused of fatally shooting Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, who were about to be engaged to be married. They were leaving a May 21 event for young professionals and diplomats at the Capital Jewish Museum and hosted by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that fights antisemitism and supports Israel, when they were killed.
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