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U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Columbia
WASHINGTON – June 3, 2025 – Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, has been charged with multiple federal and local offenses following the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff members outside the Jewish National Museum in Washington, D.C., on May 21, 2025.
Rodriguez faces federal charges including:
- Murder of foreign officials,
- Causing death through the use of a firearm, and
- Discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
Additionally, he is charged with two counts of first-degree murder under the District of Columbia criminal code.
The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen, and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith.
“This brutal, anti-Semitic violence has no place in our country or anywhere in civilization,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will follow the facts and pursue the most severe punishment possible for this heinous crime, which ended the lives of two promising individuals.”
“Our community is reeling,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Because of one man’s actions, two families have lost loved ones, and their futures were stolen. Senseless violence is intolerable, and we are committed to bringing justice to the victims, their families, and our city.”
“This was a targeted, anti-Semitic attack,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Jensen. “We will use every available resource to investigate and prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law.”
“We are actively increasing security around religious institutions across the city,” added MPD Chief Pamela A. Smith. “Public safety remains our top priority, and we are working closely with federal partners to ensure the safety of all residents and visitors.”
“Let me be clear: hateful violence against Jewish Americans and foreign diplomats will be met with the full force of the Justice Department,” said Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon. “We are expanding enforcement, increasing outreach, and ensuring accountability.”
Details of the Crime
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Rodriguez allegedly opened fire on two Israeli Embassy staff members as they exited an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee. The event brought together Jewish professionals and members of the diplomatic community.
Surveillance video reportedly shows Rodriguez walking past the victims before turning and firing multiple rounds. After both victims collapsed, he allegedly continued firing at close range—even as one victim attempted to crawl away.
Law enforcement recovered a 9mm handgun and 21 spent shell casings from the scene. Both victims were employed by the Israeli Embassy; one was an Israeli citizen and an official guest of the U.S. government.
Investigators say Rodriguez entered the museum following the shooting, where he was later identified through witness accounts and surveillance footage. He had flown from Chicago to Washington, D.C., the day prior with the firearm declared in his checked luggage.
Ongoing Investigation
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department, with prosecutorial support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and assistance from the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
A criminal complaint is only an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
