Two Young Lives Lost in Washington Shooting
- Teo Drinkovic
- May 23
- 3 min read
In a senseless outburst of violence and hatred on Wednesday evening during the Washington shooting, two young people were killed when Elias Rodriguez (31) opened fire
On Wednesday, two young people lost their lives in a senseless outburst of violence that shook the citizens of Washington, USA, and the world. The attacker, Elias Rodriguez (31), has been charged with opening fire on a group of people leaving an event for young diplomats at the Capital Jewish Heritage Museum, organized by the American Jewish Committee. This organization supports the state of Israel and fights against hatred, racism, and antisemitism.
Rodriguez has been charged with the murder of foreign officials, causing death with a firearm, discharging a firearm in a violent crime, and first-degree murder. BBC
The Washington shooting attacker worked for a nonprofit health organization and is believed to have had past affiliations with far-left groups.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, emphasized in a statement that the attack is being investigated as a potential act of terrorism, and further charges against Rodriguez may follow.
The victims of Rodriguez's senseless killing spree have been identified as 30-year-old Yaron Lischinsky and 26-year-old Sarah Lynn Milgrim, a young couple who were soon to be engaged. Both were employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington. The young couple, gunned down in an instant, were dedicated to building bridges between Arabs and Jews in the hope of ending the bloodshed in the Middle East. BBC
An organizer of the event the couple attended told the BBC it was heartbreaking and deeply ironic that they had been discussing building bridges only to be struck down by such hatred.
Israeli Ambassador to the USA, Yechiel Leiter, stated that the young man had already purchased a ring and planned to propose to his girlfriend the following week in Jerusalem.
The Washington shooting occurred around 9:05 p.m. local time on Wednesday. Washington D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith reported that the attacker, Rodriguez, was seen nervously pacing before approaching a group of four people and shooting two of them. The Washington Post
In the chaos that followed, witnesses mistook the shooter for one of the victims. They tried to comfort him, brought him water, and offered shelter and support.
"We thought he just needed help and a safe place," said witness Katie Kalisher to the BBC. "People were calming him down, bringing him water, taking care of him," added another witness, Yoni Kalin. BBC
Only after police arrived did it become clear that the “witness” was, in fact, the shooter. He confessed to the shooting, pulled out a red head covering, and shouted: “I did this for Gaza. Free Palestine.”
According to officials, after being taken into custody, the attacker continued shouting “Free Palestine.” The exact motive remains unclear, but FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino stated that the police are interrogating the attacker and that early indicators suggest this was a targeted act of violence.
Another FBI official, Steve Jensen, said Rodriguez was previously unknown to authorities, but investigators are reviewing his social media accounts and contacting his associates.
According to a social media post by Dan Bongino, investigators discovered Rodriguez’s manifesto on X, where he condemned Israel’s killing of Palestinians after the Hamas attacks in October 2023 and discussed the morality of “armed” action.
This is a part of the Manifesto on X!
In addition, Rodriguez was reportedly once affiliated with the far-left Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) in Chicago, according to a post by the group on X. The group stated it had no involvement in the shooting and does not support it. They clarified that Rodriguez was briefly connected to one of their chapters but had had no contact with them for more than seven years. ReutersABC News
Due to its military offensive in Gaza, Israel faces ongoing international condemnation and a rise in antisemitism and related incidents worldwide.
President Trump expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, posting on Truth Social:
“These horrific murders in DC, clearly motivated by antisemitism, must stop immediately! There is no place for hatred and radicalism in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. It's tragic that such things are even happening! God bless you all.”
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