DC Shooting Victims, two Israeli Embassy Employees, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were tragically shot and killed on the evening of Wednesday, May 21, 2025, outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. (CBS News, May 22, 2025; NPR, May 22, 2025).¹ The couple had just attended an event at the museum when they were attacked in what law enforcement officials are describing as a targeted incident, now under investigation as a potential hate crime and act of terrorism (The Times of Israel, May 22, 2025; CBS News, May 22, 2025).²

Chicago’s Violence Spreads: Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim

Yaron Lischinsky was an Israeli citizen who also held German nationality and had immigrated to Israel (NPR, May 22, 2025; CBS News, May 22, 2025). Sarah Lynn Milgrim was an American citizen, originally from the Kansas City area, who had earned a master’s degree from American University (CBS News, May 22, 2025).³

Both DC shooting victims, worked at the Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C. (NPR, May 22, 2025).⁴ Reports indicate that Lischinsky and Milgrim were a couple, and Lischinsky was planning to propose marriage to Milgrim during an upcoming trip to Jerusalem (The Times of Israel, May 22, 2025; NBC

Washington, May 22, 2025).⁵ Some accounts describe Lischinsky as a Christian who was a strong supporter of Israel, while Milgrim was Jewish and had been involved in peacebuilding efforts (PBS News, May 22, 2025; The Forward, May 22, 2025).

The Killer: Elias Rodriguez of Chicago

The suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, was reportedly seen pacing outside the museum before the shooting (CBS News, May 22, 2025).⁶ After allegedly shooting Lischinsky and Milgrim, the suspect entered the museum where he was apprehended by museum security (CBS News, May 22, 2025).⁷ 

During his arrest, Rodriguez reportedly shouted “Free, free Palestine” and later told police, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza” (The Times of Israel, May 22, 2025; BBC News, May 22, 2025).⁸ Rodriguez has since been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, murder of foreign officials, and other firearm-related charges (NPR, May 22, 2025; CBS News, May 22, 2025).⁹

Jewish Media Response

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) confirmed that the victims were attending their annual Young Diplomats Reception moments before the attack and mourned their loss as cherished members of their community (American Jewish Committee, May 22, 2025).¹⁰ Leaders from both the United States and Israel have condemned the killings, with many officials labeling it an antisemitic attack (The Times of Israel, May 22, 2025; CBS News, May 22, 2025).¹¹

Sources:

• American Jewish Committee. (2025, May 22). What To Know About The Murder of Sarah Milgrim z”l and Yaron Lischinsky z”l in Washington, D.C. Retrieved from ajc.org
• BBC News. (2025, May 22). Suspect charged in Washington DC killings of two foreign officials.¹²Retrieved from bbc.com
• CBS News. (2025, May 22). Suspect in fatal shooting of 2 Israeli Embassy staff in D.C. wasn’t on police’s radar.¹³ Here is what we know. Retrieved from cbsnews.com
• CBS News. (2025, May 22). Israeli Embassy staff members fatally shot in Washington, D.C., were about to get engaged.¹⁴ Retrieved from cbsnews.com
• The Forward. (2025, May 22). Sarah Milgrim killed outside Jewish museum with Yaron Lischinsky¹⁵ –. Retrieved from forward.com
• NBC Washington. (2025, May 22). Recap: Suspect charged with murder after 2 killed at Capital Jewish Museum. Retrieved from nbcwashington.com
• NPR. (2025, May 22). Two Israeli embassy staffers killed amid a rise in antisemitism.¹⁶ Retrieved from npr.org
• NPR. (2025, May 22). Suspect charged with murder in killing of 2 Israeli Embassy staffers.¹⁷ Retrieved from npr.org
• PBS News. (2025, May 22). These are the DC shooting victims who worked for the Israeli Embassy.¹⁸Retrieved from pbs.org
• The Times of Israel. (2025, May 22). Washington shooting suspect charged with murder, told police he ‘did it for Gaza’.¹⁹ Retrieved from timesofisrael.com