DOJ planning hate crime expenses in opposition to man accused of capturing Israeli Embassy staffers, supply says
The Justice Division will transfer to indict the person accused of killing two Israeli Embassy staffers in Might on federal hate crime expenses this week, a supply aware of the matter mentioned.
The indictment in opposition to 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez is anticipated to incorporate particular findings for capital punishment, which might permit the Justice Division to pursue the dying penalty within the case. A grand jury has been convened to listen to the Justice Division’s proof, the supply mentioned.
A Division of Justice spokesperson and attorneys for Rodriguez didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
Rodriguez is already charged with two counts of first-degree homicide, homicide of international officers and different counts after allegedly killing Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, two staff on the Israeli Embassy in Washington who had been leaving an occasion on the Capital Jewish Museum on Might 21.
He’s additionally charged with inflicting the dying of an individual by the usage of a firearm and discharge of a firearm throughout a criminal offense of violence. U.S. Legal professional for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro mentioned on the time of the capturing that the assault was being investigated as a hate crime and terrorism.
President Trump has sought to broaden the use of the dying penalty, directing his Justice Division to hunt capital punishment “for all crimes of a severity demanding its use” in a January govt order. Beneath federal legislation, the dying penalty is simply permitted for sure crimes like murder or treason, and a few aggravating issue — like murdering a diplomat or kidnapping leading to homicide — should be current.
In accordance with charging paperwork, video exhibits that after Rodriguez allegedly shot the couple, he walked nearer to them and fired “a number of extra occasions.” Milgrim sat up after being shot, and he reloaded his weapon and fired once more at her, hanging her, the paperwork allege.
In all, 21 rounds had been fired from a 9 mm weapon, in response to the courtroom paperwork. A firearm journal was discovered on the scene, and a handgun with its slide locked was discovered close by.
Federal officers traced the weapon and say information present it was bought by Rodriguez on March 6, 2020, in Illinois. The handgun was bought legally, in response to an individual briefed on the investigation.
As soon as officers arrived on the museum, Rodriguez requested to talk with police and advised them, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I’m unarmed,” in response to the charging paperwork. Rodriguez was then taken into custody.
FBI Washington Assistant Director Steven Jensen mentioned the suspect — who lived in Chicago — got here to Washington, D.C., on Might 20 and was touring for a piece convention. He flew from Chicago O’Hare Airport to Reagan Nationwide Airport with the firearm in checked baggage and had declared the firearm, in response to courtroom paperwork.
Rodriguez is anticipated to seem in Washington, D.C., federal courtroom on his preliminary expenses for a standing listening to on Friday.
