The charges carry a maximum penalty of death or life in prison
FBI says suspect published manifesto attempting to “morally justify” actions
WASHINGTON — The man accused of killing two Israeli diplomats last year in Washington, DC, was indicted on four additional terrorism charges in a new indictment unsealed Wednesday.
The new indictment includes nine previously filed charges, including hate crimes. Some of the charges carry a maximum penalty of death or life in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia said.
“These additional terrorism-related charges carry a mandatory life sentence under D.C. law while reflecting the fact that this act was, in fact, an act of terrorism,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said in a statement.
Prosecutors accuse Elias Rodriguez, 31, of opening fire on people leaving an event for young professionals and diplomats hosted by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that fights anti-Semitism and supports Israel.
According to prosecutors, he fired approximately 20 rounds from a semi-automatic weapon and shouted “Free Palestine”.
Lawyers for Rodriguez did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, who both worked for the Israeli embassy in Washington, were killed.
Darren B. Cox, the FBI’s assistant director in charge of the Washington Field Office, said Rodriguez wrote and published the manifesto as an attempt to “morally justify his actions” and inspire others to commit political violence.
The shooting, condemned by leaders around the world, came at a time of polarization, including student protests, in the United States over the war in Gaza.
The war was Israel’s response to an October 2023 attack by Hamas that left at least 1,665 Israelis and foreign nationals dead. According to Gaza health authorities, between October 7, 2023 and October 7, 2025, more than 67,000 Palestinians were killed in Gaza.
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