Latest news with #Lischinsky
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Suspect in shooting outside Jewish museum in DC faces local, federal charges: What we know
The suspect in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy workers outside a Jewish museum in the nation's capital faces charges of murder from both the federal government and D.C. accusing him of firing at close range even as one tried to get away. The May 21 shooting of Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and his girlfriend Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, outside the Capital Jewish Museum has drawn universal condemnation from politicians and civil rights leaders, with Attorney General Pam Bondi calling it an antisemitic act of violence. Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, was arrested after the shooting and on May 22 charged in D.C. with two counts of first-degree murder, and with federal counts of murdering foreign officials and firearm offenses. Upon arrest, Rodriguez allegedly said he "did it for Palestine." "We are going to continue to investigate this as a hate crime and as a crime of terrorism," U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro told reporters. In court on May 22 for his first appearance, Rodriguez waived his right to a detention hearing. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 18. It wasn't clear if Rodriguez had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. Here's what we know about the shooting: Lischinsky and Milgrim were shot while they were leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee at the museum on May 21 at about 9 p.m. According to an affidavit in the criminal complaint against Rodriguez, he was seen on surveillance video outside the museum walking across the street toward the museum. The victims were standing outside, preparing to enter a crosswalk. Rodriguez walked passed the victims and two other people, then turned to face the victims' backs and fired several times at them, the affidavit said. The victims fell to the ground, and Rodriguez then went closer to them. Milgrim was seen on the footage trying to crawl away, and he shot her several more times, the affidavit said. Rodriguez then jogged away. A witness told investigators they saw Rodriguez make a throwing motion after the shooting, and a firearm was located in that area. After the shooting, Rodriguez entered the museum, where people inside spoke with him, unaware he was a suspect. He was detained by event security inside, officials previously said. Lischinsky and Milgrim were both employees at the Israeli embassy, and were days away from getting engaged, according to Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter. Lischinsky was an Israeli citizen and an "official guest" of the United States. The two were working to promote reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians, according to advocacy groups with which they were involved. Lischinsky was a research assistant for Middle East and North African affairs at the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., according to his LinkedIn. Milgrim worked at the Israeli embassy since November 2023, according to her LinkedIn profile, which said her "passion lies at the intersection of peacebuilding, religious engagement, and environmental work." Sarah Milgrim remembered: Shooting victim was 'a light' who fought antisemitism Milgrim's friend, Ayelet Razin, told USA TODAY she was dedicated to fighting antisemitism and called her "a light and an enlightened person," someone whose presence could instantly lift the people around her. "That was her most powerful armor: her wit, her intelligence, and her maturity," Razin said. While he was detained, Rodriguez shouted "Free, free Palestine," video of him being escorted out of the museum shows. "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza," he told investigators, according to the affidavit. He also allegedly expressed admiration for a person who set themselves on fire outside the Israeli embassy in February 2024, calling the person a "martyr," the affidavit said. Rodriguez flew from Chicago to Washington, D.C., on May 20, according to the affidavit. He brought a firearm with him in his checked luggage. The gun used at the shooting was a 9mm handgun purchased in Illinois in March 2020. Rodriguez was born and raised in Chicago and attended the University of Illinois at Chicago, a biography accessed through the Internet Archive from the website for the nonprofit the History Makers said. He worked there as an oral history researcher, according to his LinkedIn account. At the time of the shooting he was working for the American Osteopathic Information Association, the group confirmed in a statement. Contributing: John Bacon, Thao Nguyen, Jorge L. Ortiz and Melina Khan, USA TODAY; Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DC shooting suspect faces local, federal charges: What we know
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Capital Jewish Museum reopens in an ‘act of resilience'
May 29 (UPI) -- The Capital Jewish Museum reopened Thursday morning with an invitation-only tribute to the Israeli Embassy staffers who were killed outside its entrance last week. "Today's reopening is not simply a return to normal," museum president Chris Wolf told visitors, WNBW reported. "It is an act of resilience," Wolf said. "It is a declaration that we will not allow hate to silence our voices or diminish our commitment to building a better future." Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser was among those invited and who attended the reopening of the museum that is located near the intersection of 3rd Street and F Street in the capital's downtown district. "Part of my charge to my team in every difficult circumstance is that we have to get open [and] we have to get back to normal," Bowser said during the reopening event. "Thank you for getting open," she told museum officials and staff. Bowser also encouraged city residents and visitors to: "Keep showing up for the Jewish community." A 'most heinous form of anti-Semitism' Museum officials called the attack the "most heinous form of anti-Semitism" in a statement posted on the museum's website. "They are a stark and tragic reminder of the hatred that, regrettably, still exists in our world," the statement says. "In the face of such darkness, we are called upon to respond not with despair, but with resilience." The museum had closed for a week following the May 21 double homicide of Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, after they left a museum event and were waiting to cross the street outside while on foot. Both were employed by the Israeli Embassy in the nation's capital and were a couple who many said likely were about to become engaged. Lischinsky was an Israeli-German citizen and had purchased an engagement ring ahead of a trip to Jerusalem, where he planned to propose marriage. Milgrim was born in Kansas and was a U.S. citizen. A history of anti-Israel activity Chicago resident Elias Rodriguez, 31, is a U.S. citizen and is charged with two counts of murder and other related crimes after traveling from Illinois to Washington, D.C., before the shooting. He did not enter a plea during his arraignment hearing. Rodriguez has a history of involvement in far-left and pro-Palestinian events and is recorded shouting, "free, free, free Palestine," as he was being arrested, according to an FBI affidavit. He had entered the museum that Lischinsky and Milgrim had just exited immediately after the shooting, the affidavit and witnesses say. Witnesses said he yelled, "I did it for Gaza," while admitting to the attack when police arrived and arrested him. Video footage from surveillance cameras in the area shows a man who looks and was dressed the same as Rodriguez walking past a group of four people, including Lischinsky and Milgrim. The man in the video then turned to face their backs, drew a firearm and shot Lischinsky and Milgrim in their backs. Video footage shows the man reloading the firearm and shooting each victim several more times. The FBI affidavit says law enforcement recovered a 9mm pistol from the scene that records show Rodriguez purchased in Illinois in 2020 and declared in his checked baggage when he flew to the capital. Spent casings from 21 cartridges were found at the scene, suggesting the shooter used two 10-round magazines and a chambered bullet during the attack.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Senators condemn fatal shooting of Israeli embassy employees as families mourn
A community in Kansas gathered to celebrate the life of Israeli Embassy employee Sarah Milgrim Tuesday after she was fatally shot alongside her boyfriend, fellow Israeli Embassy employee Yaron Lischinsky, leaving the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington last week. Lischinsky had purchased an engagement ring and was planning to propose to Milgrim before they were both killed, those close to the couple said. The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder; murder of foreign officials, a federal capital offense; and multiple gun-related counts. He could face the death penalty if convicted. The suspect shouted "Free Palestine" while in police custody, and the fatal shooting is being investigated as a hate crime, according to the FBI. Lawmakers have condemned the violence as an act of antisemitism. Speaking with Fox News Digital on Capitol Hill, both Republican and Democratic senators condemned the fatal shooting. Israeli Ambassador Connects Embassy Staffers' Slaying To 'Very Important' Bigger Picture White House Decries 'Evil Of Antisemitism,' Vows Justice After Fatal Shooting Of Israeli Embassy Staffers Read On The Fox News App "These two young people died senselessly. Israel's engaging in a war for its very survival. My heart breaks for these two young people in the prime of their lives," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said. Lischinsky was 30, and Milgrim was 26. "There's no room for violence in America," Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., told Fox News Digital. "I appreciate my colleague, Sen. Rosen, moving a resolution today that no colleagues objected to, bringing attention to antisemitism in America. Anytime anyone is targeted, we need to speak up, not just here, but around the world." Senators Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Rick Scott, R-Fla., last week on the Senate Floor condemned what they described as an "antisemitic attack" and celebrated the passage of their bipartisan resolution that recognizes May as Jewish Heritage American Month. "This is everybody's worst nightmare that people would not only engage in antisemitic rhetoric, but act on it," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said it "reminds us all how festering hate and prejudice leads to violence. We have to redouble our efforts to stop any form of prejudice or bigotry." "Obviously, there's been a rise in antisemitism over the last several years," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., told Fox News Digital. Gillibrand is one of two Democratic senators representing New York, which is home to the largest Jewish population in the United States and also includes Columbia University, the elite Ivy League school in Manhattan that has been accused of allowing antisemitism to fester on campus. President Donald Trump has condemned the anti-Israel protests at elite universities, threatening to cut federal funding to institutions that do not condemn antisemitism and threatening to revoke international students' visas. "It is disgraceful that two young people with their whole lives in front of them can't go to a reception in a public building in Washington, D.C., and be safe. It is criminal. It is disgraceful. It is intolerable, and we have to do everything we can to stop antisemitism in its tracks and protect people," Gillibrand added. In an unusual move for active federal court judges, four of them said in a Dispatch opinion piece Wednesday, "Societies that persecute Jews are societies that are sick and dying. Societies that allow the moral rot of Jew hatred to proliferate are societies on their way out of the pages of history." The Associated Press contributed to this story. Original article source: Senators condemn fatal shooting of Israeli embassy employees as families mourn
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Capital Jewish Museum to reopen one week after deadly double shooting
WASHINGTON () — A week after a of the Israeli embassy, the Capital Jewish Museum announced it would be reopening its doors. Last Wednesday, — a couple about to be engaged — were fatally shot while leaving an event at the museum. According to court documents, the event was hosted by the American Jewish Committee to 'bring together Jewish young professionals and the D.C. diplomatic community' and was attended by several members of the U.S.-based Israeli diplomatic mission. Authorities said the suspect, , opened fire on a group of four people at around 9 p.m., striking and killing the couple. The State Department said Lischinsky was an Israeli citizen and an 'official guest' of the U.S. government. 'Death penalty eligible case': Suspect charged in shooting that killed two Israeli Embassy staff members, officials say Since then, the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum has been closed as the community continues to mourn the loss of Lischinsky and Milgrim. Museum officials said the museum was founded to share Jewish stories, build understanding and encourage community dialogue. 'Recognizing how essential this work is, the Museum will reopen to the public tomorrow, Thursday, May 29, at noon,' officials said. 'We are committed to ensuring that our museum is a welcoming space for everyone. We look forward to making our exhibitions and programming available, including our new and highly anticipated exhibition , which celebrates the vibrant and diverse tapestry of Jewish identity.' Enhanced security measures will be in place upon reopening, the museum noted. This includes a multi-tiered security presence inside and outside of the museum. All bags will also be searched and no large bags or luggage over 18″x12″x8″ will be allowed inside. To reserve tickets to the museum, click . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Vancouver Sun
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
DC Jewish museum shooting victim laid to rest in Kansas
At the funeral of Sarah Milgrim in Kansas on Tuesday, those who knew the slain Israeli Embassy employee remembered a woman deeply committed to unity and peace. Milgrim, 26, and fellow embassy staffer Yaron Lischinsky, 30, were gunned down on May 21 after attending an event centered on improving humanitarian aid to the Middle East. According to an FBI affidavit, the shooter claimed he 'did it for Gaza.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. At Congregation Beth Torah in Overland Park, Kansas, speakers shared heartfelt memories, from Milgrim's childhood love of animals and horseback riding to a moment when she used oven mittens to rescue a baby rabbit, The New York Times reported. A rabbi who had known her since childhood spoke of her strong ties to the Jewish community through her school years in Prairie Village and at the University of Kansas. Her supervisor at the embassy described her as a gifted liaison who approached her work 'with a natural brilliance and boldness.' Rabbi Doug Alpert of Kol Ami synagogue in Kansas City, Missouri, called her 'a good soul' and 'a pursuer of peace,' praising her 'innate sense of goodness' and belief that people should be 'loving caretakers' of the world, according to the Times. Milgrim's upbringing in Kansas City's small Jewish community—about 20,000 people across two states—was shaped by resilience in the face of antisemitism, including swastikas at her high school in 2017, the report said. The shooting, which prosecutors are treating as a murder, happened days before Milgrim and Lischinsky were to fly to Israel, where he intended to propose, said Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the U.S. Instead, their funerals were held a day apart—Milgrim's in Kansas and Lischinsky's in Israel. On Tuesday, security surrounded the synagogue as friends and family gathered to say goodbye. Several speakers described Milgrim's tireless efforts for peace, including her work with the embassy. While pursuing a master's at American University, Milgrim spent time in Israel with a program uniting Israelis and Palestinians in their 20s through joint seminars. The initiative aimed to build bridges through shared skills and dialogue.
