The man arrested earlier in the week for the brutal killing of two young Israeli embassy staff members, has appeared in court and charged with first-degree murder, together with the murder of foreign officials and related firearm charges.

The incident occurred outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC when Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim were shot by 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago.

Fresh reports have emerged indicating that the shooter followed one of his victims as they tried to crawl away, reloaded and callously fired again several more times.

The killer has been ordered to be detained until his next hearing, scheduled for 18 June, but was warned that the case was “death-penalty” eligible and it will be in the hands of the prosecutors whether or not a death sentence is sought.

Death penalty a real possibility

In a federal court, magistrate judge Matthew Sharbaugh made it clear to Mr Rodriguez that the crime, if found guilty, brought with it a very real possibility of the death penalty being imposed as his punishment.

The gun used in the attack was a 9mm handgun, and was legally purchased in March 2020 in Mr Rodriguez’ home state of Illinois – which has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the US. It was brought to Washington in the suspect’s checked luggage.

Steve Jenson, from the FBI’s Washington DC field office, called the killings “an act of terror and directed violence against the Jewish community”.

Additional charges expected

Speaking at a news conference immediately after the hearing, Jeanine Pirro, the interim US attorney for Washington, described to a large crowd gathered outside, the list of charges against the defendant.

There are two counts of first-degree murder, causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and that is just the start.

Ms Pirro said that the killing was also being investigated as a “hate crime and a crime of terrorism”, stating that additional charges will be added “as the evidence warrants”. 

Suspect backed movement

Social media accounts that are linked to Mr Rodriguez suggest that he has been heavily involved in the pro-Palestinian protest movement.

Investigators said they were working to authenticate online content apparently written by him, accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, criticising US policy and discussing the use of political violence.

Admiration for “martyr”

There were 21 spent 9mm cartridges recovered at the scene and police confirmed that the handgun found had its slide locked back, meaning that it had been emptied, along with an empty magazine.

It has come to light that Rodriguez referenced a 2024 incident to detectives, in which a man set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC.

He seemingly expressed his admiration for the act and called the man involved a “martyr” for his protest over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Vigil for embassy victim

For 26-year-old Ms Milgrim this week should have been one of the most special of her life. Mr Lischinsky was taking her to meet his family in Israel where he was all set to propose to her.

Instead, a vigil has been held in her home town of Kansas City. She had previously been quite vocal regarding her fears of antisemitism in American public life.

“Empathy” for both sides

Her heartbroken father, Robert, said his daughter not only loved Israel, but “everybody that lived in the Middle East”. He added that she spent several summers in Israel working with Palestinian and Israeli groups “to bring them together”.

That included being an active volunteer at an advocacy group called Tech2Peace who trained young Palestinians and Israelis and promoted positive dialogue between the two.

The group paid tribute to her, saying: “she brought people together with empathy and purpose; her dedication to building a better future was evident in everything she did and her voice and spirit will be profoundly missed.”