Washington, D.C. – Authorities are investigating Elias Rodriguez, 31, the suspect arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum, for potential ties to a radical left-wing group known for its strong pro-Palestinian advocacy.
According to police reports, Rodriguez allegedly confessed to the Wednesday night shooting and was heard chanting “Free, free Palestine” at the scene. As investigators work to determine the motive behind what is being treated as an antisemitic act, details about Rodriguez’s background are beginning to surface.
Rodriguez was previously associated with the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), a far-left organization that frequently disseminates anti-Israel rhetoric on social media platforms. Notably, the PSL posted “End the genocide. Israel out of Gaza now” on Wednesday, just hours before the shooting occurred.
Following the incident, the PSL issued a statement on X attempting to distance itself from the violence and Rodriguez. “We reject any attempt to associate the PSL with the DC shooting. Elias Rodriguez is not a member of the PSL,” the group stated, adding, “He had a brief association with one branch of the PSL that ended in 2017. We know of no contact with him in over 7 years. We have nothing to do with this shooting and do not support it.”
However, a now-deleted article on the PSL’s Liberation News outlet reportedly identified Rodriguez as a member who participated in a 2017 protest in Chicago.
As of early Thursday, Rodriguez was being interviewed by the D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI as part of the ongoing investigation into his history and potential motivations.
Witnesses at the scene described seeing Rodriguez in distress and pacing outside the museum shortly after the shooting. Some individuals, unaware he was the suspect, offered him assistance, including water. Upon police arrival, witnesses and police reported that Rodriguez pulled out a red keffiyeh and repeatedly yelled, “Free Palestine.”
Footage from the aftermath of the incident showed Rodriguez, wearing a suit jacket and slacks, being taken into custody in handcuffs.
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