(NewsNation) — As more information is revealed about the deadly shooting of two Israeli Embassy employees in Washington, D.C., the suspected shooter, Elias Rodriguez, is being looked at from all angles.
Rodriguez, 31, faces charges of murder of foreign officials and other crimes. Additional charges are likely, prosecutors said Thursday, as authorities continue to investigate the killings as both a hate crime against the Jewish community and terrorism.
Rodriguez allegedly shouted “Free Palestine” as he was led away after his arrest and told police that he was the one who “did it,” according to documents.
Elias Rodriguez shown on surveillance shooting victims: Police
Court documents made public Thursday claim that the shooting was captured on surveillance video outside the museum, which authorities said showed Rodriguez firing at the victims several more times after they fell to the ground.
After he was arrested, Rodriguez told detectives that he admired the man who set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in February 2024 and described the man as “courageous” and a “martyr,” court documents claim.
Rodriguez also told detectives that he purchased tickets to the event at the museum about three hours before it started, according to the court documents.
So, who is Elias Rodriguez? Where is he from? Who is he associated with?
Elias Rodriguez’s work was based in Chicago: Report
A thread on X from a BBC Verify journalist showed Rodriguez’s LinkedIn profile, which shows that he’s been working in Chicago at the American Osteopathic Information Association since 2024.
Before the American Osteopathic Information Association, Rodriguez allegedly worked as a researcher at HistoryMakers, a research and educational institution based on preserving the African American historical record.
Elias Rodriguez possibly had ties to extremist organizations
Rodriguez is also believed to have an affiliation with the Answer Coalition, a group that fights against racism and war with organizing centers in cities and towns across the country.
The 30-year-old also had a brief association with the Party for Socialism and Liberation. The PSL said they have not associated with Rodriguez for seven years.
In 2017, Rodriguez attended a protest in honor of the anniversary of the death of Laquan McDonald, who was fatally shot by a Chicago police officer. The protest was also against Amazon.
Elias Rodriguez set up GoFundMe for event he was trying to attend
Years ago, Rodriguez set up a GoFundMe to travel to Washington, D.C., to attend the People’s Congress of Resistance, NewsNation’s Alex Caprariello learned.
His mission was to put an end to imperialist war, which at the time, Congress had vested interests in expanding.
Rodriguez’s father is an Army National Guardsman. He was sent to Iraq when Rodriguez was 11 years old.