The lone suspect in the fatal shooting of two Israel embassy workers outside a Jewish museum in Washington has been charged with two counts of first degree murder, according to a court filing from the US Justice Department.
Elias Rodriguez, 31, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, murder of foreign officials and firearms offences, the criminal complaint filed in federal court in Washington showed.
The killings took place just outside the Capital Jewish Museum, 1.6km from the White House as it held an event for young professionals and diplomatic staff.
The two victims were identified as Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, a young couple about to become engaged to be married.
Friends and members of advocacy groups they belonged to said the pair were committed to building bridges between Arabs and Jews in hopes of ending bloodshed in the Middle East.
After the shooting, Israeli embassies around the world immediately stepped up security.
Interim US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, newly appointed by US President Donald Trump as the top federal prosecutor in Washington, said at a news briefing the complaint against Mr Rodriguez constitutes a "death penalty-eligible case".
At his first appearance in court, the suspect waived his right to a detention hearing, and a preliminary hearing in the case was set for 18 June, Ms Pirro said.
Following the shooting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited "the terrible price of anti-Semitism" and what he called "wild incitement against the state of Israel".
Mr Trump echoed this, posting on social media: "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!"
Police said they detained Mr Rodriguez, who is from Chicago, at the scene.
Video footage showed the bearded man in a jacket and white shirt shouting "free, free Palestine" as he was led away.
Watch: Suspect restrained by security following shooting at museum
The attack came days after the museum was awarded a grant to boost security, as anti-Semitism surges worldwide in the wake of Israel's devastating invasion of Gaza, prompted by the 7 October 2023 attack by Palestinian militants Hamas.
Tensions are high in the United States and in many other countries over the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza.
Britain and France - which have stepped up their condemnation in recent days of Israel's actions - were among those condemning the shooting, as well as Germany and the United Arab Emirates.
But Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Saar, put blame on European governments, claiming there was "a direct line connecting anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli incitement to this murder".
"This incitement is also done by leaders and officials of many countries and international organisations, especially from Europe," he said.
French foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine called the accusation "completely outrageous and completely unjustified".
In an incredible mix-up, witnesses reportedly said that security personnel appeared to mistake the gunman for a victim of the shooting and allowed him into the museum, where he was initially comforted by bystanders.
"Some of the people at the event brought him water. They sat him down. 'Are you OK? Were you shot? What happened?' And he's like 'somebody call the cops'," Yoni Kalin, who was in the museum, told US media.
Washington Police Chief Pamela Smith told reporters that the suspect was seen pacing back and forth outside the museum before the shooting around 9pm local time on Wednesday.
"He approached a group of four people, produced a handgun and opened fire," she said.
Chief Smith confirmed the suspect then entered the museum and was detained by security, and said he told them where he discarded the gun.
The targeted event was an annual reception hosted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) for young Jewish professionals and the Washington diplomatic community.
Mr Lischinsky was a research assistant at the Israeli embassy, while Ms Milgrim worked for its public diplomacy department, according to their LinkedIn profiles.
Mr Lischinsky was Christian, according to The Times of Israel, for whom he had previously worked as a blogger. Germany's foreign minister said he also held a German passport.
Israel's ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, who said he spoke with Mr Trump by telephone, told reporters the young staffers were a couple about to get engaged.
"The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem," Mr Leiter said.
"They were a beautiful couple."
