Victims of deadly taking pictures at Jewish Museum in D.C. recognized as younger couple “in the prime of their lives”

The victims of a deadly taking pictures exterior the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., have been recognized as a younger couple who labored on the Israeli Embassy and had been on the verge of getting engaged. 

The Israeli Overseas Ministry recognized the victims as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, and referred to them each as embassy employees members. The Israeli Embassy stated the pair had been “in the prime of their lives.” 

“No words can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss,” the embassy stated in a assertion on social media. “Our hearts are with their families, and the embassy will be by their side during this terrible time.” 

Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., informed reporters the pair was a “beautiful couple,” and stated Lischinsky had bought an engagement ring “with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem.” World leaders shortly condemned the slayings.

Sarah Lynn Milgrim

Sarah Lynn Milgrim’s father, Robert Milgrim, stated she began working for the embassy in November 2023 after incomes a bachelor’s diploma at Kansas College and two grasp’s levels — one at American College in Washington, D.C., and the opposite on the United Nations for Peace College in Costa Rica. Her levels centered on worldwide research and coverage, he stated, and she or he had been employed on the Israeli Embassy earlier than the Oct. 7 Hamas terror assault that left 1,200 Israelis useless and touched off the conflict in Gaza.

“This is her first real job after finishing her six years of education,” Robert Milgrim informed CBS Information.

The Kansas College chapter of Hillel, the world’s largest Jewish campus life group, remembered Milgrim as a “beloved alum” whose “bright spirit and passion for the Jewish community touched everyone fortunate enough to know her.” She served on the group’s board of administrators, KU Hillel stated. 

Earlier than working for the embassy, Milgrim spent a number of summers in Israel the place she labored with “Palestinian and Israeli groups to bring them together,” Robert Milgrim stated. She made each Palestinian and Israeli mates on these journeys, he stated. 

“She loves Israel and she loved everybody that lived in the Middle East,” Robert Milgrim stated.

Robert Milgrim stated his daughter met Lischinsky whereas incomes a grasp’s diploma at American College. The 2 began courting weeks after they met, and the household “loved” Lischinsky, her father stated. 

He stated the couple was flying to Israel on Sunday to fulfill Lischinsky’s household in Jerusalem, including that he was informed Lischinsky had been planning to suggest on the journey. 

“We didn’t know that he was going to propose then,” Robert Milgrim stated. “And the ambassador told us that he knew that he’d bought the ring and was going to present it to her in Jerusalem.” 

Yaron Lischinsky

Lischinsky was a German twin nationwide, the AFP reported. He “spoke fondly of growing up” in Bavaria, a area of southern Germany, and was “very much in love with his childhood home” there, stated Lore Herzog, who had identified Lischinsky since 2018. He got here from a big household, Herzog stated. 

“He loved them all dearly and spoke about them all the time,” Herzog stated. 

Herzog remembered Lischinsky as a “very morally upright person with a very strong sense of justice.” The 2 met whereas dwelling in Jerusalem.

“Yaron was super cheerful and seemed to really love everything he did,” stated Herzog, who now lives in Amsterdam. “It was his dream to work in politics and international relations.”   

Suspect in custody

Elias Rodriguez has been named as a suspect within the taking pictures and is presently in custody, officers stated. Rodriguez, a 30-year-old from Chicago, was initially “observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum” earlier than he approached a bunch of 4 individuals, “produced a handgun,” and shot Lischinsky and Milgrim, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith stated in a information briefing. 

Rodriguez entered the Jewish Museum instantly after the taking pictures, and was arrested by museum safety, Smith stated. Witness video exhibits Rodriguez shouted “Free Palestine” whereas being arrested. 

Rodriguez had discarded the weapon used within the taking pictures, however informed police the place it was. It has since been recovered, Smith stated. 

Rodriguez additionally “chanted ‘free, free Palestine,’ while in custody,” Smith stated. 

Metropolitan Police stated Rodriguez didn’t pop up on an preliminary search of crime databases and wasn’t on the radar of regulation enforcement businesses. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser stated the town’s police division and the FBI shall be investigating the taking pictures. 

A Justice Division supply informed CBS Information that Rodriguez could make his first courtroom look as early as Thursday.