Capturing suspect's father was Democratic congressman's visitor at Trump tackle

[ad_1] The daddy of the person accused of capturing two Israeli Embassy staffers outdoors the Washington, D.C., Capital Jewish Museum earlier this week attended President Donald Trump’s joint tackle in March on the invitation of a Democratic Illinois representative .

"Eric Rodriguez was our visitor throughout the President’s Joint Speech to Congress, however we don’t know his household," a spokesperson for Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García, D-In poor health., instructed Fox Information Digital in a press release.

Rodriguez is an Iraq struggle veteran and steward for the Service Staff Worldwide Union who works at a Chicago VA hospital, according to the group’s web site.

SUSPECT ACCUSED OF KILLING ISRAELI EMBASSY STAFFERS IN DC COULD FACE MORE CHARGES

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/343/192/2025-05-22t163331z_2_lynxmpel4l0mr_rtroptp_4_washington-shooting-israel.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/686/384/2025-05-22t163331z_2_lynxmpel4l0mr_rtroptp_4_washington-shooting-israel.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/672/378/2025-05-22t163331z_2_lynxmpel4l0mr_rtroptp_4_washington-shooting-israel.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1344/756/2025-05-22t163331z_2_lynxmpel4l0mr_rtroptp_4_washington-shooting-israel.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/931/523/2025-05-22t163331z_2_lynxmpel4l0mr_rtroptp_4_washington-shooting-israel.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1862/1046/2025-05-22t163331z_2_lynxmpel4l0mr_rtroptp_4_washington-shooting-israel.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/720/405/2025-05-22t163331z_2_lynxmpel4l0mr_rtroptp_4_washington-shooting-israel.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1440/810/2025-05-22t163331z_2_lynxmpel4l0mr_rtroptp_4_washington-shooting-israel.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, who have been shot and killed as they left an occasion on the Capital Jewish Museum, pose for an image at an unknown location, on this handout picture launched by Embassy of Israel on Could 22, 2025. (Embassy of Israel to the USA through X/Handout through Reuters)

"Eric represents the easiest of our group – somebody who has served his nation, continues to serve his fellow veterans and fights every single day to guard the dignity of working individuals," García previously said in a press release.

On the day of Trump’s tackle, Rodriguez denounced the administration’s therapy of veterans in a video posted by SEIU.

Rodriguez and SEIU didn't instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.

ISRAELI AMBASSADOR CONNECTS EMBASSY STAFFERS' SLAYING TO 'VERY IMPORTANT' BIGGER PICTURE

Elias Rodriguez, the 31-year-old suspect accused of capturing two Israeli Embassy staffers on Wednesday, Could 21, in Washington, D.C. (Instagram/@shinewithIsrael)

"The rationale why I'm in Washington, D.C., is as a result of I’m involved about what Donald Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE are doing to the VA system," Rodriguez stated. "They’re indiscriminately slicing individuals’s jobs, they’re slicing funding and other people depend on these funds. Folks depend on these companies."

On Thursday, Rodriguez’s son, Elias, appeared in federal court docket to face a number of expenses, together with two counts of first-degree homicide, after allegedly gunning down Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, as they have been leaving the Capital Jewish Museum.

Authorities allege Elias traveled from Chicago to Washington, D.C., the day earlier than the capturing, transporting the authorized firearm in checked baggage earlier than buying a ticket to an occasion hosted by the American Jewish Committee.

SUSPECT CHARGED WITH MURDERING ISRAELI EMBASSY STAFF COULD FACE DEATH PENALTY

A sketch from the preliminary listening to/arraignment for Elias Rodriguez, who's accused of capturing two Israeli Embassy staffers. (Dana Verkouteren)

In keeping with an unsealed FBI affidavit, surveillance footage allegedly reveals Elias approaching Lischinsky and Milgrim from behind as they entered a crosswalk earlier than opening hearth on the couple.

Because the victims collapsed to the bottom, investigators say Elias allegedly continued shooting earlier than pausing to reload his weapon and firing once more.

Upon being approached by authorities, Elias allegedly stated, "I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza. I'm unarmed." As he was being arrested, bystander video reveals Elias yelling, "Free Palestine."

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If convicted , Elias might face the loss of life penalty with a minimal sentence of 30 years in jail.

"I strongly condemn this horrible, mindless act of antisemitism," García stated in a statement posted to X. "My coronary heart is with the victims and everybody impacted by the assault. We mourn the lives misplaced and reject the concept that justice may be gained by violence."

Fox Information Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.

Julia Bonavita is a U.S. Author for Fox Information Digital and a Fox Flight Staff drone pilot. You'll be able to observe her at @juliabonavita13 on all platforms and ship story tricks to julia.bonavita@fox.com.