Who is Elias Rodriguez, suspected gunman in murders of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington?

Suspect chanted 'free Palestine' as he was arrested

Police detained Elias Rodriguez following a shooting on Wednesday night near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington that left two Israeli embassy staffers dead.

On Thursday, he was charged with murder. In addition to two counts of first-degree murder, he was charged in a six-page criminal complaint seen by The National with murder of foreign officials, causing death with a firearm and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence.

Israel's Foreign Ministry named the victims as Yaron Lischinsky, who worked in the embassy’s political department, and his partner Sara Milgram of the public diplomacy department.

The museum was hosting the “AJC Access Young Diplomats Reception”, organised by the American Jewish Committee, aimed at “fostering unity” among young Jewish professionals and the diplomatic community.

Two Israeli embassy officials shot and killed in Washington DC

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Mr Rodriguez was seen pacing outside the museum before approaching a group of people and opening fire.

"Early indicators are that this is an act of targeted violence," Dan Bongino, deputy director of the FBI, said in a post on social media.

Who is Elias Rodriguez?

Mr Rodriguez is a resident of the Albany Park neighbourhood in Chicago, Illinois. According to NBC's Chicago affiliate, early on Thursday several FBI agents were seen entering an address in the city linked to the suspected gunman.

He is believed to be 30 years old.

After the shooting, he walked into the museum, where he was detained by event security. As he was being arrested, he shouted "free, free Palestine".

Mr Rodriguez was once linked to the Party for Socialism and Liberation – a far-left group that often makes pro-Palestine posts on social media.

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  People attend a candlelight vigil at Lafayette Square, near the White House, after the deadly shooting of two Israeli embassy officials. AFP

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  Mourners gather outside the White House to light candles to honour Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who were killed near a Jewish museum in Washington. AP

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  A screengrab from a video shows suspected gunman Elias Rodriguez, who shouted ‘free Palestine’ as he was arrested. He is alleged to have ties to a left-wing group.

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  The scene of the attack is cleaned, after the embassy staff were shot dead near the Capital Jewish Museum. Reuters

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  Emergency workers at the scene of the shooting, which took place late on Wednesday. Reuters

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  US Attorney General Pam Bondi and Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the US, at the site. Reuters

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  The two victims, a man and a woman, were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when a gunman approached a group of four people and opened fire, police said. Reuters

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  The shooting occurred at about 9pm, near Georgetown University’s Law School and the FBI’s Washington field office. Reuters

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  Police took the suspect into custody at the scene. Reuters

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  Israel's ambassador to the US said the victims were a young couple engaged to be married. AP

The group, however, rejected attempts to associate it with the shooting, saying that that Mr Rodriguez was only briefly associated with the group and left in 2017.

A LinkedIn profile believed to belong to Mr Rodriguez shows he was employed by the American Osteopathic Information Association as a profiles administrative specialist.

"We were shocked and saddened to learn that an AOIA employee has been arrested as a suspect in this horrific crime," American Osteopathic Association president Teresa Hubka and chief executive Kathleen Creason said.

"As a physician organisation dedicated to protecting the health and sanctity of human life, we believe in the rights of all persons to live safely without fear of violence."