Israel-Gaza latest: Suspect said 'I did it for Gaza' after Washington killings; Israeli government blames Starmer
Suspect accused Israel of 'atrocities' in social media post, Sky News finds
A social media post believed to have been published by the suspect accuses Israel of "atrocities" against Palestinians.
The suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez, 30, from Chicago, chanted "free, free Palestine" as he was arrested, as we've reported.
Sky News has uncovered what is believed to be a statement by the shooting suspect posted at 10pm local time last night, around an hour after the shooting - suggesting it was scheduled.
The letter, signed with Rodriguez's name, was dated 20 May 2025.
Watch: Suspect shout 'Free Palestine'
In the lengthy essay, Rodriguez criticises Israel's actions in Gaza and attacks the US government's position.
"The atrocities committed by the Israelis against Palestine defy description and defy quantification," it says.
"Instead of reading descriptions mostly we watch them unfold on video, sometimes live. After a few months of rapidly mounting death tolls Israel had obliterated the capacity to even continue counting the dead."
The statement adds: "Public opinion has shifted against the genocidal apartheid state, and the American government has simply shrugged, they'll do without public opinion then, criminalize it where they can, suffocate it with bland reassurances that they're doing all they can to restrain Israel where it cannot criminalize protest outright."
Rodriguez concludes the statement: "I love you Mom, Dad, baby sis, the rest of my familia, including you, O***** . Free Palestine."
Israel has repeatedly denied accusations of genocide in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described a UN report accusing Israel of carrying out "genocidal acts" against the Palestinians as biased and antisemitic.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence secretary Yoav Gallant - as well as a senior Hamas commander - for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the war in Gaza.
Netanyahu has decried what he said were the "false and absurd charges of the International Criminal Court, a biased and discriminatory political body".
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