Alleged shooter in Capital Jewish Museum case appears in federal court
Communities react in horror to the killings of two Israeli Embassy staffers
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The suspect in the killing of two Israeli embassy staffers outside an event at the Capitol Jewish Museum in Washington DC has now appeared formally in court to face initial charges.
Elias Rodriguez is facing at least four charges, including the deaths of foreign officials and first degree murder.
According to court documents, Elias Rodriguez claims, he did this for Gaza. New U.S Attorney General for Washington, DC. Jeanine Pirro promises to prosecute Rodriguez to the fullest extent of the law.
“Let me also say that violence against anyone based on their religion is an act of cowardice. It is not an act of a hero. It is the kind of case that we will vigorously pursue. Anti-semitism will not be tolerated, especially in the nation’s capital.”
Steve Jenson the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office added, “Make no mistake. This attack was targeted anti-Semitic violence, and it won’t be tolerated.”
Outrage after Israeli embassy staffers Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim were shot and killed Wednesday night after an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.
In what FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino called an “act of targeted violence”, suspected shooter Elias Rodriguez, shouted “free Palestine” while being taken into custody.
Ahmed Mitchell is the National Deputy Director with CAIR, the Council on America-Islamic Relations.
“That is political violence. It’s illegal. It’s wrong. It’s unacceptable that that’s, the simple, simple truth, period. We cannot be engaging in political violence in this country. It is Pandora’s box. We’ve seen it before, and it leads to nowhere. Good. And so we condemn this”
Eliana Goodman, Public Policy Director of Combat Antisemitism, believes this attack was bound to happen, it was just a matter of when and where
“Am I surprised it happened? No, because for the past two years, plus, this is exactly what Hamas and the anti-Israel activists have been spewing that we need to globalize the intifada and Zionism, kill the Jews. This is exactly what they’re doing. So I‘m not surprised at all that this did happen. I’m very sad, and i’m distraught that it did occur.”
If convicted, Rodriguez could face the federal death penalty, or life in prison.
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