The horrifying murder of two young Israeli Embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., has now taken a chilling turn. Authorities have identified the shooter as 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez — a self-described socialist from Chicago with a history of radical left-wing activism and pro-Palestinian support.
Rodriguez, who had been active in leftist protest circles for years, gunned down 30-year-old Yaron Lischinsky and 26-year-old Sarah Lynn Milgrim on Wednesday night in what many are calling a politically motivated act of violence. Before the attack, Rodriguez posted a disturbing manifesto on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), titled “Escalate For Gaza, Bring The War Home.”
In the post, Rodriguez railed against Israel and suggested violent action was justified. “In the wake of an act people look for a text to fix its meaning, so here’s an attempt,” he wrote. “The atrocities committed by the Israelis against Palestine defy description and defy quantification.”
He continued ominously, “An armed action is not necessarily a military action. It usually is not,” and added, “Public opinion has shifted against the genocidal apartheid state, and the American government has simply shrugged… [They’ll] criminalize it where they can, suffocate it with bland reassurances that they’re doing all they can to restrain Israel where it cannot criminalize protest outright.”
According to the New York Times, Rodriguez lived in Chicago and had been working for the American Osteopathic Information Association — a trade organization representing osteopathic physicians. His online activity revealed a pattern of extremist behavior. In 2023, he posted videos from a pro-Palestinian rally in Chicago and was photographed at a protest in front of then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s home, opposing Amazon’s expansion into the city. That protest was organized by the socialist activist group Answer Chicago.
Rodriguez’s background is littered with far-left ideology. A Goodreads account tied to his email showed an interest in books on Maoism, slavery, and political theory. Meanwhile, his LinkedIn profile (now deactivated) reportedly showed that he worked as a researcher at The HistoryMakers — a nonprofit documenting Black American stories — and previously held content-writing jobs in the tech industry.
Social media users also uncovered photos appearing to show Rodriguez at Black Lives Matter protests. The Daily Mail reported that he had alleged affiliations with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, a fringe Marxist group that has defended authoritarian regimes in the past.
Video taken shortly after the shooting allegedly shows Rodriguez chanting “Free Palestine” as he was escorted by police.
The attack stunned the Israeli diplomatic community and American Jewish leaders. According to NPR, both victims were Messianic Jews who were deeply committed to peace in the Middle East.
Milgrim worked in public diplomacy at the Israeli Embassy, while Lischinsky focused on research related to the Middle East and North Africa. His LinkedIn profile described him as an “advocate for interfaith dialogue and intercultural understanding” between Israelis and Arabs.
Their murder sent shockwaves through both the Jewish and diplomatic communities.
This horrifying incident is more than just an isolated act — it’s a glaring sign of the growing threat posed by radical leftist ideologies blending with anti-Israel hatred. The suspect wasn’t just some lone individual. He was shaped and supported by the rhetoric and activism of far-left movements that often go unchecked.
This tragic event underscores the need for real leadership — leadership that will take the safety of our diplomats, our allies, and our communities seriously.
We’ll keep watching this story closely and updating you as new details come in.
