• The Justice Department is set to indict Elias Rodriguez on hate crime charges.
• Rodriguez faces the possibility of the death penalty following the shooting.
• The attack is categorized as antisemitic and an act of terrorism.

The U.S. Justice Department is preparing to indict 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez on federal hate crime charges connected to the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on May 21. It is expected that this indictment will include special findings that could allow for the pursuit of the death penalty, highlighting the severity of the case. Rodriguez has been in custody since his arrest following the attack, during which he allegedly shouted, "I did it for Palestine" as he opened fire, according to ABC News and CBS News.

The indictment against Rodriguez will include nine counts, such as a hate crime resulting in death, which prosecutors argue was motivated by the victims' Israeli nationality. Rodriguez is also charged with first-degree murder and other offenses after allegedly firing approximately 21 rounds at the couple, even after they fell, as detailed in FBI affidavits and corroborated by AA and Al Jazeera.

Authorities have emphasized that the shooting is being treated as a calculated act of terror, aiming to establish that Rodriguez's motivations were antisemitic in nature. This type of categorization is crucial as it influences both the legal proceedings and potential penalties, including the death penalty, which has been floated by members of the Trump administration as a broader response to rising crime rates and targeted violence in the nation's capital, according to India Times.

Rodriguez's arrest and subsequent statements have garnered significant public attention, and his upcoming court proceedings will be closely monitored by both legal experts and human rights advocates. The case raises substantial discussions around hate crimes, violence, and the protection of vulnerable communities in America, as reflected in the public statements by various leaders, including U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who condemned the actions as unacceptable and rooted in hatred and radicalism, as reported by ABC News and CBS News.