Death Penalty Sought in Murder of Jewish Kansas City Woman
The federal government announced that it will seek the death penalty for the man accused of killing Sarah Milgrim, a Kansas City native, and Yaron Lischinsky of Israel last year near the Capitol Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.
“My message to anyone who seeks to commit political violence in this district: D.C. is not the place,” said Jeanine Pirro, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. “You will be held accountable, and you will face the full wrath of the law.”
Elias Rodriguez was indicted on several federal counts, including multiple terrorism-related offenses, in the deaths. Several charges filed against him carry a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment. He previously was charged with the murder of a foreign official, firearm-related charges, two federal counts of hate crime resulting in death and two counts each of first-degree premeditated murder while armed and assault with intent to kill while armed.
To secure the death penalty, federal prosecutors must prove that Rodriguez specifically targeted the young couple because they were Jewish and Israeli. Milgrim was a U.S. citizen, and Lischinsky was an Israeli citizen working in the United States. Rodriguez flew from Chicago to the Washington area with a handgun in his checked luggage and specifically reviewed information about the American Jewish Committee’s support for Israel.
Witness and surveillance accounts indicate that after pacing outside, Rodriguez approached a group of four people, opened fire and shot the victims at close range as they fell to the ground, according to authorities. Rodriguez allegedly had approached the victims as they left a young diplomats reception at the museum and fired from a semiautomatic handgun, according to the indictment. “Free Palestine,” he said. “I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza.”
The Gaza war began after the terrorist enclave invaded Israel and slaughtered 1200 civilians on Oct. 7, 2023.
Prosecutors said he was “motivated by political, ideological, national and religious bias, contempt and hatred,” according the court filing. Rodriguez’s next court appearance is set for June 30. A trial date has not been scheduled.
–Alan Goforth
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