Washington, DC – WafricNews | A tragic turn of events unfolded at the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night, as the man now in custody for the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staff was initially mistaken for a witness by security and event attendees.

Eyewitnesses speaking to WafricNews and other outlets described the alleged shooter, identified by police as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, as appearing “distraught” after the incident—so much so that some thought he had just witnessed the violence, not caused it.

Jojo Kalin, the event organizer with the American Jewish Committee, recalled seeing Rodriguez inside the museum shortly after the shots rang out. “He looked very shaken. Security assumed he was a bystander. I even gave him water,” Kalin said. Moments later, she said, the man pulled out a keffiyeh scarf and shouted, “Free Palestine.”

According to authorities, Rodriguez is accused of killing Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, both staff members of Israel’s Washington DC embassy. The pair, described as a couple by Israel’s ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, had reportedly been planning to get engaged during an upcoming trip to Jerusalem.

The attack occurred around 9:05 p.m. local time, just as guests were leaving the museum event. Police Chief Pamela Smith confirmed that Rodriguez was seen pacing near the entrance before approaching a group of four people and opening fire with a handgun, striking two.

Attendees who had offered the suspect aid were stunned to learn they had been helping the alleged shooter. “He looked like he needed help,” said eyewitness Katie Kalisher. Another guest, Yoni Kalin, noted that people around Rodriguez tried to calm him, not realizing who he was. “It was only after police arrived that we found out. He pulled out a red keffiyeh and admitted it. He said, ‘I did this for Gaza. Free Palestine.’”

The event itself had been centered on building regional coalitions and fostering dialogue in the Middle East—an effort that now stands in stark contrast to the violence that erupted. “It’s painfully ironic,” Kalin said. “We were there to talk about building bridges, and instead we were confronted with hatred and bloodshed.”

Dan Bongino, Deputy Director of the FBI, told reporters that the case is being treated as a “targeted act of violence,” and investigations into the suspect’s motives and background are ongoing.


By WafricNews Desk.