Elias Rodriguez also charged with the murder of foreign officials, causing death with a firearm and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence
A US federal court charged the suspect in the killing of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, DC with two counts of first-degree murder Thursday.
Chicago-born Elias Rodriguez, 30, was arrested after opening fire outside the Capital Jewish Museum in the US capital late Wednesday, killing Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, who were set to be engaged.
The suspect shouted "Free Palestine" as he was taken into custody, according to a video that went viral on social media.
Rodriguez was also charged with the murder of foreign officials, causing death with a firearm and the discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, according to the criminal complaint.
President Donald Trump was "saddened and outraged" over the killing, the White House said Thursday.
“These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Later, he held a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the incident.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the "act of terror has the full attention of the FBI."
"Targeted anti-Semitic violence is an attack on our core values and will be met with the full weight of federal law enforcement. The individual responsible will be held accountable, and the Bureau will continue pursuing every lead until justice is served," Patel said on X.
Deputy Director Dan Bongino said on X that the FBI is "aware of certain writings allegedly authored by the suspect" and hoped to have updates as to their authenticity "very soon."
