"I Did This for Gaza”: FBI Raids Chicago Apartment of Gunman Accused of Killing Israeli Diplomats in D.C.

Earlier today, FBI agents, supported by Chicago police and the Cook County Sheriff, conducted a court-authorized raid on an apartment in Chicago’s East Albany Park neighbourhood, believed to be the residence of Elias Rodriguez, the 31-year-old suspect accused of fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night. The victims, Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, a couple planning to get engaged, were leaving an American Jewish Committee (AJC) Young Diplomats Reception when Rodriguez, allegedly pacing outside, approached a group of four and opened fire at close range, killing the two. Rodriguez then entered the museum, where he was detained by security, chanting “Free, free Palestine” and confessing, “I did this for Gaza,” while displaying a red keffiyeh, according to witnesses Yoni Kalin and Katie Kalisher.

The raid began around 8 a.m., with heavily armed FBI agents in tactical gear entering the apartment building on the 4700 block of North Troy Street. Photos and videos showed a significant law enforcement presence, with police tape blocking the street and approximately a dozen vehicles, including FBI bomb technicians, on scene. A window of the unit, presumed to be Rodriguez’s, displayed signs reading “Justice for Wadea,” referencing the 2023 murder of a Palestinian American boy, and “Tikkun Olam means free Palestine,” invoking a Hebrew phrase meaning “repairing the world.”

Rodriguez, a Chicago resident with no prior criminal record, worked as a profiles administrative specialist at the American Osteopathic Information Association (AOIA), which expressed shock at his arrest. A 900-word manifesto, allegedly authored by Rodriguez and circulating online, justifies the killings as a political protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza, suggesting deep radicalization.

Chicago Ald. Debra Silverstein expressed concern over the suspect’s local ties, urging investigation into connections with extremist groups and increased patrols to protect the Jewish community. Mayor Brandon Johnson and Police Supt. Larry Snelling condemned the attack, emphasizing efforts to combat hate-based violence. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, whose team member was at the event, called it “an attack on the Jewish community,” highlighting the trauma inflicted.

FBI Director Kash Patel vowed to hold Rodriguez accountable, stating, “Targeted anti-Semitic violence is an attack on our core values and will be met with the full weight of federal law enforcement.” The investigation continues, with Rodriguez expected to face federal hate crime charges.