Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, an Israeli embassy couple, were shot dead outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC by Elias Rodriguez, who is in custody. The incident has drawn international condemnation and raised concerns about rising antisemitism.
Couple Working at Israeli Embassy Shot Outside Jewish Museum in Washington DC
Couple Working at Israeli Embassy Shot Outside Jewish Museum in Washington DC
Tragedy strikes as embassy employees Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim are killed in an apparent hate crime in front of the Capital Jewish Museum.
A shocking incident unfolded on Wednesday evening when a couple linked to the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC was fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum. Met with calls to the police at 21:08 local time, authorities arrived at the scene to discover the victims—identified as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim—unconscious and unresponsive. The Metropolitan Police Department reported that the couple had just departed from an event at the museum, located near prominent tourist sites and governmental buildings.
Police suspect the shooter, Elias Rodriguez, aged 30 from Chicago, had been loitering outside the museum moments before he opened fire on the pair while shouting, "free, free Palestine." After the shooting, Rodriguez is said to have entered the museum, where he was detained by visitors. Witness Yoni Kalin expressed the shock of those present inside the museum: “We initially thought he was a distressed bystander who needed help.”
An ongoing investigation led by the MPD, with the FBI assisting, is exploring potential links to terrorism or a hate crime. Rodriguez remains in custody and is expected to face judicial proceedings soon.
The victims, both employed at the embassy, were reportedly in a loving relationship, with Lischinsky preparing to propose to Milgrim. Mr. Lischinsky, a German-Israeli national with military experience, and Ms. Milgrim, an American with a background in public diplomacy, were described by friends and family as kind-hearted individuals committed to fostering love across cultural divides.
In light of the attack, US officials have condemned the violence, with President Donald Trump labeling it "antisemitic" and calling for an end to hatred. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced outrage over the incident, highlighting the broader context of anti-Israeli sentiment linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions.
As investigations continue and communities share their grief over this tragic loss, many are now left to reckon with the implications of this violent act amid rising cultural and political tensions surrounding issues of identity and conflict.
