In the wake of the murder of Israeli Embassy staffers outside an event at the Capitol Jewish Museum in Washington DC, President Donald Trump has sent Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to Israel on an urgent visit. Noem is expected to land in Israel this evening (Sunday), where she will immediately head to the Western Wall. Later, she is set to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as with victims of terrorism. On Monday, she is scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar.
The attacker, Elias Rodriguez, murdered married couple Yaron Lishinsky and Sarah Milgrom. Rodriguez, a 31-year-old Chicago resident, has been charged with premeditated murder. The indictment reveals chilling details about the shooting, which occurred outside the National Jewish Museum.
According to the indictment, Rodriguez approached the couple from behind, drew a handgun and opened fire at their backs. After they collapsed, he confirmed the kills by shooting both multiple times. Milgrom, who tried to crawl away, was shot again as she attempted to sit up. Surveillance footage shows Rodriguez reloading his weapon and firing at her at point-blank range. He then leaned over their bodies and fired again.
The museum's security cameras captured the entire incident, including the moment the weapon jammed and Rodriguez appeared to try to fire without success. The 9mm handgun was purchased by Rodriguez in Illinois in March 2020. The shooting took place shortly before 9 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time). Emergency responders pronounced Lishinsky dead at the scene. Milgrom was evacuated to a hospital but was declared dead about half an hour later.
