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The affidavit describes video of the killings, cites witness accounts and lists evidence found at the scene, including a 9-millimeter handgun.
May 22, 2025Updated 6:21 p.m. ET
Elias Rodriguez, the suspect in the killings of two Israeli Embassy aides in Washington on Wednesday night, was filmed on surveillance video as he walked past his two imminent victims, then turned to face their backs, fired several times, and fired more shots after they fell to the ground, according to an F.B.I. affidavit filed on Thursday.
The video captured the scene on the street outside the Capital Jewish Museum, where the victims, Sarah Milgrim, 26, and Yaron Lischinsky, 30, were leaving a reception for young diplomats shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday.
After being shot, Ms. Milgrim tried to crawl away, the affidavit said, but Mr. Rodriguez “followed behind her and fired again.” During a pause, while it appeared that he was reloading his weapon, Ms. Milgrim sat up, the affidavit said, and Mr. Rodriguez fired several more times.
The affidavit said that Ms. Milgrim sustained “multiple gunshot wounds” and was transported to the office of the chief medical examiner for the District of Columbia, where she was pronounced dead.
Mr. Lischinsky was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the affidavit.
Mr. Rodriguez had flown from Chicago to the Washington area on Tuesday with a gun declared in his checked baggage, the affidavit said. A witness’s account in the document describes Mr. Rodriguez making a “motion with his arm as if he was throwing an object.” Nearby, the police recovered a 9-millimeter handgun, 21 spent cartridge casings and a firearm magazine, according to the affidavit. The gun was empty.
Andy Newman writes about New Yorkers facing difficult situations, including homelessness, poverty and mental illness. He has been a journalist for more than three decades.
Andrea Kannapell leads the international team that produces the Morning, Evening and Weekend Briefings.
