Who Is Elias Rodriguez? 30-Year-Old Suspect In Washington DC Shooting Killing 2 Members Of Israeli Embassy

Washington DC: Two staffers of the Israeli Embassy were killed after a man opened fire near the Capital Jewish Museum in the United States capital, Washington DC, on Wednesday night (local time). The suspect yelled, "Free, free Palestine" after the arrest. He has been identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez.

The two Israeli Embassy staffers, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who died in the firing incident were about to get engaged, said Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter.

What Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu Said?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Thursday that he was "shocked" by the "horrific, antisemitic" shooting. "We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and wild incitement against Israel," Netanyahu said in a statement.

Donald Trump's Reaction:

US President Donald Trump called the shooting incident “horrible”.

“These horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!" President Donald Trump posted on social media early Thursday. "Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA,” he added.

Who Is Elias Rodriguez?

Rodriguez is a resident of Chicago. He is reportedly associated with the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) and was even involved in the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, reported NDTV citing local reports.

Rodriguez participated in an agitation outside then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's residence in 2017. As per the NDTV report, the protest was organised by groups, including People's Congress of Resistance, ANSWER Chicago and Black Lives Matter Women of Faith.

Notably, the shooting took place after Israel launched another major offensive in the Gaza Strip in a war with Hamas. Israel’s move has heightened tensions across the Middle East and internationally.