There’s some breaking news about the shooting this evening. The FBI affidavit in support of the charges against Elias Rodriguez has been released and along with it some disturbing details about the crime.
On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at approximately 9:08 pm, members of the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) First District were dispatched to investigate a shooting at the intersection of 3rd and F Streets, Northwest, Washington D.C. Upon the officers arriving at the scene, the officers observed Decedent-1 and Decedent-2 suffering from gunshot wounds.
The affidavit identifies Decedent-1 as Sarah Milgrim and Decedent-2 as Yaron Lischinsky. From here on out I’ll replaced the decedent designations with their names.
Upon arriving at the scene ,MPD Officer-1 canvassed the area for cameras and observed several affixed to the Museum. Officer-1 and his partner (Officer-2) entered the building to inquire about the cameras and identify witnesses. Once inside, RODRIGUEZ asked to speak with the officer. RODRIGUEZ then stated that he “did it” and that he was unarmed. RODGRIQUEZ was taken into custody and identified by Illinois Driver’s license and Firearms Owner’s Identification Card as Elias A Rodriguez. RODRIGUEZ spontaneously stated on scene to MPD, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed.”
After the spontaneous confession, police were able to view surveillance video of the shooting itself. It’s even worse that I imagined.
In summary, the video shows a slim build person, wearing a blue jacket with a hood, a large dark-colored backpack, blue pants, and light-colored shoes, consistent with the clothing worn by RODRIGUEZ, walking across F Street, Northwest, in the direction of the Museum, and where the decedents were standing, preparing to enter the crosswalk. Once RODRIGUEZ walked past the decedents and two witnesses, he turned to face their backs and brandished a firearm from the area of his waistband. RODRIGUEZ is captured on the video extending both his arms in the direction of the decedents and firing several times, as indicated by the muzzle flashes. Once the decedents fell to the ground, RODRIGUEZ is captured on the video advancing closer to the decedents, leaning over with them with his arm extended, and firing several more times. As [Sarah Milgrim] attempted to crawl away from RODRIGUEZ, he followed behind her and fired again. After a brief moment, RODRIGUEZ appeared to reload his firearm. At the same time, [Sarah Milgrim] sat up. Once he reloaded, RODRIGUEZ fired several times at [Sarah Milgrim].
He apparently fired 21 shots in all. One of the people who was there last night and witnessed the arrest of Rodriguez appeared on CNN today. He was asked what he had seen in the assailant’s eyes and his answer didn’t seem to go over well with the host.
“We were in the secure room when he initially walked in,” Jonathan Epstein, a witness to the deadly shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum at around 9:08 p.m. Wednesday that took the lives of Sarah Lynn Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, two employees at the Israeli embassy who were about to be engaged…
“I saw him screaming and then being handcuffed,” Epstein said on CNN. “But what I saw in his eyes, I mean, I went to Columbia for grad school, and I saw the same thing in his eyes as I saw in the eyes of all the protesters at Columbia. Nothing different between him and them.”…
While CNN anchor Sara Sidner said the Columbia protesters “did not create this horrific shooting,” Epstein pushed back.
“They gave permission, they gave the permission, and they‘ve called for this,” Epstein said. “They have called for intifada revolution, which is the same thing he yelled last night.”
Here’s the exchange.
CNN Host Gets Upset When Witness Says Columbia Protesters And D.C Suspect Are The Same
Jonathan Epstein: I went to Columbia for grad school, and I saw the same thing in his eyes as I saw in the eyes of all the protesters at Columbia. Nothing different between him and them.
Sara… pic.twitter.com/4QqRRh44Qn
— Mr Producer (@RichSementa) May 22, 2025
The media has been downplaying the extremism of these campus groups for over a year now. These activists, including Mahmoud Khalil, support designated terror groups. The openly support Hamas. They call explicitly for supporting Hamas and their goal of driving Israelis into the sea. They want to bring the Intifada here because the also openly despise the United States, just as Elias Rodriguez did. Even today, some of the groups that organize and support the Columbia protests are defending the murders and calling for more.
We don’t condemn armed resistance. We don’t condemn direct action. We back the left and want this energy to be more organized as opposed to shunned and isolated.
— Unity of Fields (@unityoffields) May 22, 2025
Those focusing on the state repression against this movement that may arise from the rightful execution of the two nazi pigs last night are neglecting the other side: the resistance that Elias will inspire.
Repression breeds resistance, always. Every time.
— Unity of Fields (@unityoffields) May 22, 2025
Despite all of this it’s most common to see these groups depicted by the media as idealistic activists put upon by the Trump administration. Maybe now, after this brutal murder, the media can stop pretending these people aren’t calling for murder.
