Alleged DC gunman Elias Rodriguez’s father Eric was close to a far-left US Congressman
The father of a gunman who allegedly shot dead two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington was hailed as an “outspoken advocate” by a Democrat Congressman in March.
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The father of the terror suspect accused of gunning down two soon-to-be-engaged Israeli Embassy staffers at the Capital Jewish Museum was honoured by a far-left member of Congress with an invitation to President Trump’s joint address this past March, The Post has exclusively learned.
“Eric Rodriguez was our guest during the President’s Joint Speech to Congress, but we don’t know his family,” a spokesperson for Representative Jesús “Chuy” García told The New York Post.
In March, he hailed Rodriguez as “an outspoken advocate against attacks on veterans’ services and the rights of unionised federal employees.”
“Eric represents the very best of our community — someone who has served his country, continues to serve his fellow veterans and fights every day to protect the dignity of working people,” the congressman said in a statement at the time.
“His presence at the Joint Address is a powerful statement: we will not sit back while veterans and workers are treated as political pawns.”
Rodriguez also appeared in a Service Employees International Union video that same day, and said he was an Iraq War vet and an employee with the Veterans Affairs Department, the New York Times reported.
“I’ve been with the VA for three years, and the reason why I’m in Washington, DC, is because I’m concerned about what Donald Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE are doing to the VA system.”
Elias Rodriguez, 31, shouted “Free Palestine” as he was taken away by police after the shooting late Wednesday outside the Capital Jewish Museum, prosecutors said in a court document.
“I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” he told the officers. The Chicago man made an initial court appearance Thursday after being charged with two counts of first-degree murder and murder of foreign officials. If convicted, he could receive the death penalty.
Authorities were investigating the shooting “as an act of terrorism and as a hate crime,” Jeanine Pirro, interim US attorney for the District of Columbia, told reporters.
“I suspect as we go forward … that there will be more charges added,” she said, noting that a preliminary hearing was set for June 18.
The shooting triggered international outrage and finger-pointing as Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar blamed European criticism of his country’s stepped-up Gaza offensive, claiming “a direct line connecting anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli incitement to this murder.” “This incitement is also done by leaders and officials of many countries and international organisations, especially from Europe,” he said.
The father of an Israeli Embassy employee who was shot dead with her boyfriend near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, said his daughter was working to bring Israeli-Palestinian peace and more aid to Gaza.
Robert Milgrim, 73, said he was heartbroken to learn that his daughter, Sarah Milgrim, 26, and her boyfriend Yaron Lischinsky were killed likely because of their work with the Israeli Embassy.
“Last night, she was attending an affair to figure out how to get more aid into Gaza,” Mr Milgrim told The New York Post.
It comes as new details reveal how the alleged terrorist unleashed nearly two dozen rounds at the soon-to-be-engaged couple — with victim Sarah Milgrim attempting to crawl away after collapsing to the ground.
Armed FBI agents clad in tactical gear stormed a Chicago apartment building reportedly connected to Rodriguez, who allegedly gunned down the two Israeli Embassy staffers.
Video posted by NBC Chicago shows at least eight agents wearing camouflage and armed with rifles entering the front gates of the apartment building on a leafy green street in Chicago’s East Albany Park neighbourhood.
He reportedly shouted “Free, free Palestine” as he was being arrested.
Gunfire erupted outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington near the embassy as the couple was leaving an event shortly after 9pm local time, authorities said during a press conference.
After the alleged gunman pulled the trigger, he entered the museum where he was apprehended, police said.
🚨Attack upon Jews in Washington DC!
— (((Yuval David))) (@YuvalDavid) May 22, 2025
Two Israeli Diplomat staff from @IsraelinUSA were shot and killed outside the @AJCGlobal Young Diplomats event at the @CapJewishMuseum and just before that a man barged into the building yelling “Free Palestine.†pic.twitter.com/91V4ed1nSW
The suspect, who was apprehended by event security, was seen pacing back and forth outside the museum leading up to the shooting, DC Metro Police Chief Pamela Smith said.
He allegedly flashed a handgun in front of a group of four people before opening fire, she added.
The alleged gunman was initially mistaken for a victim of the shooting and allowed into the museum, according to witnesses.
“We heard gunshots and then a man comes in and he looks really distressed. People are talking to him and trying to calm him down,” Katie Kalisher, who said she was inside the Capital Jewish Museum when the attack happened, told US media.
“Eventually, he comes over to where I was seated, and I was literally like ‘do you need any water? Are you OK?’”
The man was then detained after he produced a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf from his bag and claimed responsibility for the shooting, witnesses said.
“’I did it. I did this for Gaza’,” Kalisher quoted him as saying.
An Israeli Embassy spokesman said in a statement to ABC News that the two staffers were shot at “close range.”
According to Israel’s Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, Lischinsky planned to propose to Milgrim in the coming days.
“I will say this, we are a resilient people,” Mr Leiter said.
“People of Israel are resilient people. The United States of America are a resilient people.
“We will confront this moral depravity without fear and with determination, and now we’ll turn to taking care of the families of these two victims,” he added.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered enhanced security measures at Israeli diplomatic missions worldwide.
“I have instructed to enhance security arrangements at Israeli missions around the world and to increase protection for state representatives,” he said.
“We are witnessing the terrible price of anti-Semitism and the wild incitement against the State of Israel.”
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump denounced the shooting on his social media platform Truth Social.
“These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims,” he wrote.
“So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!.”
The hate-filled shooting led to a chorus of outrage and condolences.
“I want to start by sending our condolences to the loved ones of the victims who were senselessly a victim of these crimes. I want to provide my prayers and condolences to the museum staff and the guests who are also gathering together in fellowship,” Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said at the press briefing.
“We will not tolerate the acts of terrorism, and we’re going to stand together as a community in the coming days and weeks to send a clear message that we will not tolerate antisemitism,” she added.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon called the shooting “a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism.”
“Harming diplomats and the Jewish community is crossing a red line,” he said on X.
“We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act. Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives — everywhere in the world.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he was “devastated” by the violence.
“This is a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism, which has claimed the lives of two young employees of the Israeli embassy,” he said.
The museum is located at 575 3rd St NW, near the FBI field office and the US attorney’s office. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating.
Ted Deutch, the CEO of the American Jewish Committee, said that his organisation hosted an event at the museum.
“We are devastated that an unspeakable act of violence took place outside the venue,” he said.
“At this moment, as we await more information from the police about exactly what transpired, our attention and our hearts are solely with those who were harmed and their families.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said he is working with the Metropolitan Police Department “to respond and learn more,” he wrote in a tweet. “In the immediate, please pray for the victims and their families. We will keep the public updated as we are able.”
The incident is the tenth terror plot targeting Jews in America since July.
Anti-Semitism has reached historic levels in the United State with more than 9350 antisemitic incidents recorded in 2024, up five per cent from 2023 and an increase of 344 per cent over the past five years.
Anti-Defamation League National Director Jonathan Greenblatt condemned the attack in Washington and described it as “inevitable”.
“Our hearts are broken for the victims of this heinous attack against a young couple attending an American Jewish Committee (AJC) event in Washington D.C,” he said.
“This was not just against the Jewish community of D.C., but an assault on all Jewish Americans and indeed all Americans.”
Mr Greenblatt said the attack was a time for Americans to come together and denounce antisemitism.
“We know that words have consequences,” he said.
“When antisemitic rhetoric is normalised, tolerated, or even amplified in our public discourse, it creates an environment where violence against Jews becomes more likely.
“In a climate of relentless antisemitism in the U.S. and globally since Oct. 7, 2023, unfortunately, this tragedy was inevitable.
“Already it has led to Jewish students on campus being attacked in libraries and on the quad, Jews walking to synagogue attacked, and Jewish businesses and synagogues targeted.
“And now, we have this tragic murder of two innocent young people in the prime of their lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and the entire Jewish community at this difficult time.”
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