Two staffers at the Israeli embassy in Washington were shot to death by a pro-Palestinian terrorist on Wednesday outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, in what police are calling a terrorist attack. 

An affidavit filed by the Metropolitan Police alleges Elias Rodriguez (31) of Chicago, purchased a ticket to the 21 May 2025 charity event about three hours before it began, but did not enter. He was observed pacing up and down the sidewalk outside the museum before using a 9 mm pistol handgun to open fire on a group of four people leaving the event. Yaron Lischinsky (30) was shot and killed, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim (26) was grievously wounded. The suspect then reloaded his pistol shooting Milgrim as she crawled away. Lischinsky was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:14 PM while Milgrim was pronounced dead at 9:35 after being transported by ambulance to the hospital.

According to Israel’s ambassador to the US, Mr. Lichinsky planned to propose to her in Jerusalem next week.

The suspect who shot and murdered them later told police, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.”

Lischinsky was born in Germany to a Jewish father and Christian mother, and as a teen moved to Israel, where he served in the Israeli military, before relocating to Washington where he worked at the Israeli embassy as a research assistant. According to friends, he was a “devout Christian” who converted when living in Jerusalem.

Sarah Lynn Milgrim was a graduate of the University of Kansas, who had earned two master’s degrees in international relations before taking a position in the Israeli embassy’s public diplomacy department. Her father said she “loved everybody that lived in the Middle East” and “had a lot of close Palestinian friends, as well as many Israeli friends.”

Rodriguez has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, murder of foreign officials and other counts. Acting US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, told a Thursday news conference: “This is a horrific crime, and these crimes are not going to be tolerated by me and my office.” 

At his arraignment on 22 May 2025 the magistrate judge told Rodriguez that if convicted of the crimes with which he was charged, he would face the death penalty or life in prison. The court denied bail for the accused killer and a preliminary hearing has been set for June 18.

While of Jewish heritage, the couple worshipped at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension and St Agnes in Washington. The Rev. Dominique Peridans told Anglican.Ink: “Yaron and Sarah have been worshipping with us for several months.  They even attended our Newcomers Series in March.” He added the parish was “In prayer with you for them and their loved ones—and the whole Church.”

The Bishop and Dean of Washington, the Rt Rev Marianne Budde and the Very Rev Randolph Hollerith on 22 May 2025 released a statement denouncing the anti-Semitic terror attack.

“Together with our neighbors in Washington, D.C. and people around the world, we grieve the murder of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, two staff members at the Israeli Embassy, who were gunned down outside the Lillian & Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum. We offer our deepest condolences to Sarah and Yaron’s family and friends; to all in the Israeli Embassy; and to our Jewish neighbors and friends in this region and beyond.

“As Christian leaders, we join our colleagues and friends in the wider interfaith and ecumenical community in denouncing this heinous act and all expressions of antisemitism. We recognize the magnitude of tragedy and death in the Middle East that is a cause of unrelenting grief and frustration — which we share — yet that can never justify antisemitism and the violence it inspires.

“In a poignant connection to us in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, in recent months, Yaron and Sarah had been exploring their faith as regular worshippers at Ascension & St. Agnes Episcopal Church near Logan Circle. In the words of Father Dominique Peridans, rector of Ascension & St. Agnes, “Their attraction to Christ seemed to have deepened their love for their Jewish sisters and brothers as well as their commitment to serve the people of Israel.”

We cannot ignore the brutal irony of where and when these murders occurred: Yaron and Sarah had just attended an event that brought together multifaith attendees to discuss humanitarian initiatives.

“Now is a time of grief for two young people, in love with one another and desiring to serve humankind, murdered in our city in an act of anti-Jewish hatred. May we all extend a hand of friendship to our Jewish friends and neighbors, stand in solidarity to oppose hatred in all forms, and build communities of shared dignity and peace.”