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FBI Raids Chicago Apartment of Suspect In Deadly Shooting of Two Israelis

Charlie Kirk Staff

05/22/2025

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FBI Raids Chicago Apartment of Suspect In Deadly Shooting of Two Israelis

Federal agents carried out a raid Thursday morning in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood, searching the apartment of a man accused of shooting two Israeli embassy employees outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C., the night before. The suspect, 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, was taken into custody by the Metropolitan Police Department shortly after the attack.

The shooting took place as the victims were leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee that focused on humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. Rodriguez allegedly opened fire after waiting outside the venue. The victims were identified as Sarah Milgrim, a U.S. citizen employed by the Israeli embassy, and Yaron Lischinsky, a Christian Israeli. Lischinsky’s father later said the two were a couple, and his son had planned to propose to Milgrim.

“They were in love, one for the other,” Daniel Lischinsky told Fox News. “The embassy told us they were like a star couple at the embassy. I never expected something like this.”

Authorities arrived at Rodriguez’s residence around 9 a.m. Thursday, wearing tactical gear and carrying rifles and at least one ballistic shield. FOX 32 Chicago captured images of law enforcement at the scene. A sign in one apartment window read, “Justice for Wadea,” referencing a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy killed in Illinois in a 2023 hate crime. A neighbor, John Wayne Fry, told reporters the window belonged to Rodriguez. “That gave me the impression that they were very, very sensitive people, especially about the issue of Palestine,” Fry said.

After his arrest, Rodriguez reportedly shouted, “Free, free Palestine!”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack and described Rodriguez as a “brutal terrorist.” He also criticized European governments for what he called support of Hamas over Israel.

The FBI is now reviewing an online document being described as a possible antisemitic manifesto connected to Rodriguez. The agency has not confirmed its authenticity. “The subject is in custody and interviewed last night at approximately 1 a.m.,” wrote Dan Bongino, deputy director of the FBI, on X. “As this is a pending investigation, we will share more with you when we are able.”

Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith confirmed that Rodriguez is the only suspect in the case.

Rodriguez has a history of political activism. In 2017, he appeared in a photo published by the socialist outlet Liberation during a protest outside then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s home. The demonstration opposed Amazon’s expansion and police violence. The archived article showed Rodriguez accusing Amazon of “whitening Seattle” and forcing communities into “deeper and deeper poverty.” The Party for Socialism and Liberation, which has publicly criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, later disavowed Rodriguez, saying he had a “brief association” with the group in 2017 and that they had no contact with him since.

The phrase “Justice for Wadea” references the murder of Wadea al-Fayoume, who was stabbed 26 times in October 2023 by his family’s landlord in what prosecutors described as a hate crime. Wadea’s killing came shortly after a major Hamas terrorist attack in Israel, which left over 1,200 dead, including at least 40 Americans. In February, a jury convicted 73-year-old Joseph Czuba of murder, attempted murder, and hate crimes for the attack on Wadea and his mother.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the D.C. shooting, including possible motives and any ideological connections Rodriguez may have had.

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Charlie Kirk is the Founder and President of Turning Point USA, a national student movement dedicated to empowering young people to promote the principles of free markets and limited government.

Charlie is also the host of “The Charlie Kirk Show” podcast, which regularly ranks among the top-10 news shows on Apple podcast news charts, and is the host of the nationally syndicated daily radio show on the Salem Radio Network live from 12 - 3 PM ET.
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