New Delhi:
Two Israeli employees of the embassy, a man and a woman, were shot at the end of Wednesday outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, by a shooter who called ‘Free Palestine’, the police said.
The suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez, is a 30-year-old resident of Chicago. The police said that Rodriguez did not have a previous criminal record and was seen outside the location before the attack.
The victims, supposed to be a few, left a Jewish event in the museum when Rodriguez approached a group of four and opened the fire at a short distance.
He sang “Free Palestine, Free Palestine” after he had been taken into custody, said Washington Police Chief Pamela Smith, according to The NY times.
The Israeli embassy confirmed the dead. “Two of our employees were killed up close while attending a cultural event,” said Tal Naim Cohen, the spokesperson for the embassy.
Who is Elias Rodriguez?
Elias Rodriguez is a 30-year-old resident of Chicago.
He is known for his activism with the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) and his involvement in the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, according to report.
In 2017, Rodriguez participated in a protest outside the then mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel, organized by groups, including the People’s Congress of Resistance, answer Chicago and Black Lives Matter Matter Women of Faith.
During the demonstration, which marked the birthday of the murder of Laquan McDonald by the Chicago police, Rodriguez argued that the city’s offer to organize an Amazon headquarters and the dead of the police were interconnected, talk about systemic racism and economic inequality.
Laquan McDonald was a 17-year-old black teenager who was shot 16 times by a Chicago police officer, Jason Van Dyke, on October 20, 2014. The incident became one of the most controversial cases of police violence in the US and caused national protests.
The DC recordings
Prior to the shooting in DC, witnesses reported that Elias Rodriguez “ran back and forth” outside the Capital Jewish Museum.
He then approached a group of four people and shot two in “close range,” the police said.
Allegedly, Rodriguez then entered the museum, first claimed to be a victim and asked others to call the police.
When officers arrived, Rodriguez lit his hands, said, “I did this” and stated that he was unarmed.
He then brought out a red Keffiyeh (traditional Middle Eastern scarf) and started singing “Free Palestine” while being held by security staff.
He continued the singing even while he was dragged out of the building by the police. He later led the police to the location where he had thrown his weapon away.
#Elias #Rodriguez #Main #suspect #deadly #Israeli #embassy #shooting