FBI Director Calls Slaying Of Israeli Embassy Staffers An ‘Act Of Terror’

FBI Director Kash Patel called the Wednesday night killings of Israeli Embassy staffers Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgram, 26, an “act of terror” and vowed to pursue justice with “the full weight of federal law enforcement.”

Lischinsky and Milgram, who were about to be engaged to be married, were gunned down outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., which was hosting a Young Diplomats Reception for young Jewish professionals. The suspect detained following the killings was identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, a Chicago resident with far-Left views who reportedly put on a keffiyeh and shouted “free Palestine” after fatally shooting the couple.

“Last night’s act of terror has the full attention of the FBI,” Patel wrote on X on Thursday. “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.”

The FBI raided Rodriguez’s Chicago apartment Thursday morning, but authorities have yet to release any information on what was recovered in the raid. Rodriguez worked for the American Osteopathic Information Association and was once associated with a branch of the far-Left Party for Socialism and Liberation, which pushes anti-Israel views.

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The Party for Socialism and Liberation distanced itself from Rodriguez, writing, “We reject any attempt to associate the PSL with the DC shooting. Elias Rodriguez is not a member of the PSL. He had a brief association with one branch of the PSL that ended in 2017. We know of no contact with him in over 7 years. We have nothing to do with this shooting and do not support it.”

Rodriguez received his bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago and wrote for the History Makers, a non-profit organization “committed to preserving and making widely accessible the untold personal stories of both well-known and unsung African Americans.”

Authorities are also looking to determine the authenticity of a 900-page manifesto that has been tied to the alleged shooter. In the manifesto, which was published by independent journalist Ken Klippenstein, the writer rages against Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, calling it a “genocide” and arguing that “the perpetrators and abettors have forfeited their humanity.”

Dan Bongino, the deputy director of the FBI, said, “The FBI is aware of certain writings allegedly authored by the suspect, and we hope to have updates as to the authenticity very soon.”

“The subject is in custody and interviewed last night at approximately 1am. As this is a pending investigation, we will share more with you when we are able,” Bongino added. “As our [Washington Field Office] said, the FBI believes there is no ongoing threat to the public at this time. At the same time, I want the public to be assured we are following up on any additional leads to ensure we do our complete and total due diligence on this.”