The man who is believed to have shot and killed two Israeli Embassy employees outside a Jewish museum near Washington DC reportedly shouted “free Palestine” before the attack, displaying concerning behavior prior to the incident.
Witnesses have come forward to share their encounters with Elias Rodriguez, aged 31, who stands accused of the murders of Israeli citizen Yaron Lischinsky and his partner Sarah Milgrim.
The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday evening outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum.
Attendees reported seeing a man whom they believed to be Rodriguez eerily pacing around the property as attendees filtered in.
Following the sound of gunfire, individuals inside the museum were alarmed to observe a man entering the premises in a composed manner. Despite appearing visibly distressed, compassionate individuals offered him a cup of water.
Just moments later, cops barged in the door and arrested him, leading him to scream out in protest, a haunting video has captured.
Lischinsky and Milgrim were both working for the Israeli Embassy when they were killed. Lischinsky was a research assistant and Milgrim helped to plan missions and visits to Israel.
Milgrim was preparing to head on a trip to Jerusalem with Lischinsky in a few days to meet his parents.
What she didn’t know is that Lischinsky has purchased an engagement ring and was planning to propose during their trip, her heartbroken parents revealed.
“He was incredible,” Milgrim’s father said of his would-be son-in-law, according to the New York Times.
“He was very much like Sarah – passionate, extremely intelligent, dedicated to what he does, always on the cause of what’s right.”
