Jeanine Pirro, who was recently sworn in as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, told reporters that the death penalty is on the table for the man accused of gunning down two Israeli Embassy staffers outside the city’s Jewish museum.
Elias Rodriguez, 31, has been charged with the murder of foreign officials, a federal capital offense, along with multiple firearm-related counts and two counts of first-degree murder. If convicted on either of the first two counts, he could face the death penalty.
The shooting happened Wednesday night after during an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee, which was attended by Jewish professionals and members of the diplomatic community.
One of the victims, Yaron Lischinsky, 31, was an Israeli citizen who had been granted “official guest” status by the U.S. State Department. The other victim, Sarah Milgrim, 26, also worked at the Israeli embassy.
According to an affidavit, surveillance footage captured a suspect, who was wearing a blue jacket with a hood, a large dark-colored backpack and blue pants, approaching the young couple as they were about to enter a crosswalk. The suspect, identified by prosecutors as Rodriguez, then drew a 9mm handgun and began firing at the victims.
After the victims collapsed, he moved closer and continued firing, the affidavit said. Milgrim tried to crawl away, but Rodriguez continued shooting at her. Investigators recovered 21 shell casings, an empty magazine and a discarded handgun from the scene.
Rodriguez did not resist arrest when he was apprehended by D.C. Metropolitan Police shortly after 9 p.m. local time. He allegedly told officers, “I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza. I am unarmed,” and later shouted, “Free Palestine.”
While speaking at a press conference Thursday, Pirro said the D.C. community is “reeling as a result of one person’s actions.”
“And as I speak right now, there is an individual who is being presented in court and charged with various crimes. Thirty-one-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, Illinois, is now charged by complaint after his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharp.”
During a question and answer period, Pirro was asked by Washington Post reporter Keith Alexander whether the department does indeed plan to seek the death penalty.
“I think that we have an idea of that, but let me just say that, you know, the President and the Attorney General have both indicated that, you know, in cases where the death penalty is warranted and seems appropriate we will use it,” Pirro responded. “It’s far too early to say whether that is the case but this is a death penalty eligible case.”
A spokesperson from the DC US Attorney’s Office said, “Judge Pirro has a history of fighting crime for over three decades and will continue to utilize her expertise in implementing the highest standards to assess and prosecute cases. She expects nothing less from her staff. Her job right now is to bring Law And Order to DC and make it safe for everyone.”
“As for this case, it is of the greatest import that the evidence collected be assessed and analyzed in a sterile courtroom setting and not in a publicized political setting,” the spokesperson added.
