US charges suspect in Israeli embassy shooting with murder
In the United States, Elias Rodriguez, the suspect in the shooting of Israeli embassy staff, has been charged with murder.
Main information
- Elias Rodriguez has been charged with the murder of Israeli embassy staff.
- The attack took place after an event at a museum.
- Two people were killed.
Tragic events unfolded in the United States as Israeli embassy staff were killed. Elias Rodriguez, a 31-year-old man, has now been charged with their murder. The incident occurred following an event at a museum, which the victims were just leaving.
During his arrest, Rodriguez shouted "Free Palestine". In court, he neither admitted nor denied his guilt. "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza," the suspect reportedly declared. According to court documents, Rodriguez admired a soldier who self-immolated in front of the Israeli embassy in 2024, referring to him as a "martyr".
The attack has triggered international tensions, particularly in the context of the ongoing Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. Jeanine Pirro, the acting federal prosecutor, emphasised that violence on religious grounds is an act of cowardice.
Violence against anyone based on their religion is an act of cowardice. It is not an act of a hero. Antisemitism will not be tolerated, especially in the nation’s capital, Jeanine Pirro stressed, as quoted by the ABC.
Strengthening security
Following the attack, Israeli diplomatic missions have increased security measures, and flags were lowered to half-mast. This incident further exacerbates tensions both in the Middle East and the USA.
US President Donald Trump condemned the attack, describing it as an act of anti-Semitism. In his post on Truth Social, he expressed condolences to the families of the victims. Trump firmly stated that there can be no place for hatred and radicalism in the country. The Israeli ambassador to the USA, Jechiel Leiter, revealed that the victims had been planning to marry in Jerusalem.
