Accuse Two employees of the Israeli embassy were killed Outside the Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, he was accused of two first -class accusations, the killing of foreign officials and other charges.
The suspect was identified at the age of 30 Elias Rodriguez to Chicago. He is also accused of causing the death of a person by using a firearm and emptying a firearm during the crime of violence.
An American lawyer for the province of Colombia, Janine Peru, told a press conference on Thursday afternoon, that the shooting is being investigated by the crime of hatred and terrorism, and more charges may come. The authorities said the attack was targeted.
“This is a horrific crime, and these crimes will not be tolerated by my office,” said Peru.
Peru said that Rodriguez appeared before the court on Thursday, and the judge advised that, if he was convicted, he might face the death penalty or life prison. A preliminary hearing was determined on June 18 and Rodriguez will remain in detention.
the Victims It was identified as employees of the Israeli embassy in Washington and Yaron Lesinski and Sarah Lin Melgerim. The Israeli ambassador to the United States told reporters that they were two young couple who were to participate.
The shooting occurred while the couple was leaving on Wednesday night in the museum, which is located near the FBI in the capital
Smith told correspondents on Thursday that there would be “an increasing presence of law enforcement officers throughout society”, including about religious organizations and schools.
The authorities said that the suspect was seen walking back and forth outside the museum before the shooting. Smith told the correspondents that the suspect approached a group of four people, pulled a pistol and opened the fire. One of the witnesses told the police that the gunman appears to be throwing the gun, and the police said he had been recovered later. Then the suspect went to the museum.
Once the officers arrived at the museum, Rodriguez asked to speak with the police and told them: “I did this for Palestine, I did this for Gaza, I am unarmed,” according to shipping documents in the case. Then Rodriguez was detained.
Jensen said that the suspect came to Washington, DC, on May 20 and was traveling to attend a work conference. It is not known whether the suspect knows the event that is held in the museum.
A woman was at this event, Katie Calcher, she told CBS News The suspect faced Moments after the shooting. She said that they spoke shortly and then reached his bag, and they withdrew how and said: “I did so. I did that for Gaza,” before he shouted, “Free Palestine.”
Scott McVarlin and Nicole Sanja contributed to this report.
