Israeli Embassy staffer killed in shooting outside Jewish museum was from Overland Park

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KCTV) - Two staff of the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot and killed Wednesday evening while leaving an event at a Jewish museum. One of the victims was confirmed to be from the Kansas City area.

The American Jewish Committee reported on Thursday morning that Sarah Milgrim, along with Yaron Lischinsky, were gunned down following AJC’s annual Young Diplomats Reception.

Milgrim was from Overland Park, Kansas, and a graduate of Shawnee Mission East. She was described as “warm and comionate, committed to peacebuilding and ionate about sustainability and people-to-people relations.”

Among her duties was organizing visits and missions to Israel.

She graduated from the University of Kansas in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies with a minor in anthropology, She also had a master’s in international affairs from American University.

Milgrim had a certificate in religious engagement and peacebuilding from the United States Institute of Peace, an organization funded by the U.S. Congress that promotes conflict resolution.

Milgrim and Lischinsky were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when the suspect approached a group of four people and opened fire, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said at a news conference.

The suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, was seen pacing outside the museum before the shooting, walked into the museum after the shooting and was detained by event security, Smith said.

When he was taken into custody, Rodriguez began chanting, “Free, free Palestine,” Smith said. She said law enforcement did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the community.

Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

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