Was DC museum shooter Elias Rodriguez a member of PSL? American communist party leads 'Free Palestine' protests in US

Hours after two Israeli embassy staff were killed in a shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC, police have arrested the suspect. He was identified as a 33-year-old male named Elias Rodriguez who is a Chicago resident.

The shooting took place around 9 pm when the suspect opened fire at a man and a woman at "close range". The museum was steps away from the FBI's Washington Field Office in northwest DC.

Was Elias Rodriguez a member of PSL?

Following the shooting, the suspect rushed into the museum lobby, chanting "Free Palestine". As per unconfirmed reports, he is linked to the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) in Chicago. PSL, which was established in June 2004, is a communist party the split from the Workers World Party in the US.

PSL is traditionally known for supporting the Palestinian cause. The party's leader Eugene Puryear led a pro-Palestine rally in Times Square on October 8, 2023, a day after the Hamas attack on Israel. Besides backing the Palestinian cause, PSL also supports the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, the ousted Assad regime in Syria and even defends the human rights record of North Korea.

Police are investigating the motive but said the man did not have any previous contact with the law enforcement. They have recovered a weapon from the scene.

One of the eyewitnesses, Katie Kalisher, who was inside the museum, was alarmed by the gunshots outside the building. She recounted that people came to the aid of Rodriguez and brought him water, thinking he needed help. It was only later that they realised he was the suspect, reported AP.

After police arrived, the man pulled out a red keffiyeh, yelling, "Free Palestine", the news agency quoted Kalin as saying.

Responding to the brutal shooting, US President Donald Trump said “hatred and radicalism have no space" in the country. "These horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!" he said, "Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!"

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon took to X, calling the attack “a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism.”

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