Body Camera REVEALS Shocking Embassy Murders

Body camera attached to a black uniform.

Federal prosecutors reveal that the suspect who murdered two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C. wore a body camera that recorded the killings, providing chilling first-person evidence of this antisemitic hate crime that threatens the safety of Jewish and Israeli diplomatic personnel on American soil.

Story Snapshot

  • Elias Rodriguez wore a body camera while fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum
  • The attack occurred during a diplomatic reception, with Rodriguez targeting victims based on their Israeli identity
  • Federal hate crime charges filed as prosecutors build case using the suspect’s own recorded evidence
  • The killings highlight escalating threats against Jewish institutions and Israeli diplomatic personnel in America

Body Camera Evidence Strengthens Hate Crime Case

Federal prosecutors disclosed that Elias Rodriguez wore a body camera during his May 21, 2025 attack on Israeli Embassy staffers Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim outside Washington D.C.’s Capital Jewish Museum. The device captured the murders from Rodriguez’s perspective, providing prosecutors with direct evidence of his calculated actions. This technological evidence eliminates any doubt about the premeditated nature of the attack and Rodriguez’s deliberate targeting of Israeli diplomatic personnel during a Jewish community event.

Attack Targets Israeli Diplomats During Jewish Community Event

The shooting occurred at approximately 9:08 p.m. during the AJC ACCESS Young Diplomats Reception, a humanitarian diplomacy event organized by the American Jewish Committee. Rodriguez specifically targeted the victims based on their Israeli Embassy employment, demonstrating clear antisemitic and anti-Israeli motivations. Museum security detained Rodriguez immediately after the attack, where he confessed to the killings before being taken into federal custody by law enforcement officials.

Federal Authorities Pursue Maximum Hate Crime Penalties

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced federal hate crime and murder charges against Rodriguez, who had expressed support for violence against Israelis through social media posts in the months preceding the attack. The federal jurisdiction stems from both the diplomatic status of the victims and the clear hate crime nature of the targeting. Authorities are investigating Rodriguez’s potential connections to extremist networks and examining his online activity for additional evidence of premeditation.

Rising Antisemitic Violence Threatens Jewish Institutions

This attack represents the dangerous escalation of antisemitic violence targeting Jewish and Israeli institutions across America. The Capital Jewish Museum had recently received security grants due to increased threats against Jewish organizations, highlighting the vulnerability of these cultural and diplomatic sites. Security experts emphasize this incident demonstrates the urgent need for enhanced protective measures at Jewish institutions and Israeli diplomatic facilities, as traditional American values of religious freedom and diplomatic safety face unprecedented challenges from extremist hatred.

Sources:

2025 Capital Jewish Museum shooting

Federal charges filed after deadly shooting of Israeli diplomats in DC

DOJ set to seek hate crime charges in Israeli embassy staffers shooting

Landsman statement on fatal shooting of Israeli Embassy staff members