Israeli Embassy Aides Shooting Suspect’s Arrest Caught on Camera as He Repeatedly Shouts 1 Phrase

The moment the suspect in the fatal shooting of Israeli Embassy aides Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky was arrested has been caught on camera. 

Eyewitness Katie Kalisher shared the footage of 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago being handcuffed and taken away by police officers with PEOPLE. In the clip, Rodriguez repeatedly shouts, “Free, free Palestine.”

The shooting took place outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, May 21, authorities have confirmed. 

“Prior to the shooting, the suspect was observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum,”  Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) of D.C. Pamela Smith said in a press conference. “He approached a group of four people, produced a handgun and opened fire, striking both of our decedents.

“After the shooting, the suspect then entered the museum and was detained by event security,” Smith added.

“The suspect came over to where I was and we offered him water and he reaches into his backpack and pulls out a kufiya and says, ‘I did it. I did this for Gaza,’ “ eyewitness Kalisher shared on Good Morning America. 

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Speaking with the BBC, Kalisher also explained that at first she heard gunshots outside the building and thought the man was seeking refuge from the violence outside. 

“We thought he needed shelter so he comes in,” she shared. 

Fellow eyewitness Yoni Kalin added, “People were calming him down, giving him water, little did we know that he was someone who executed people in cold blood. He was the shooter. Once the police originally showed up, he was like, ‘I did this. I’m unarmed,’ pulls out a red kufiya and was like, ‘I did this for Gaza. Free Palestine.’ “

Rodriguez was detained by event security. 

In the press conference, Smith confirmed that the weapon allegedly used in the attack was recovered where the suspect said he discarded it. Smith added, “He implied that he committed the offense.”

Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, added during the press conference that the victims were about to get engaged before they were killed.

“The couple that was gunned down tonight in the name of ‘Free Palestine’ was a young couple about to be engaged,” Leiter told reporters.

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“The young man purchased a ring this week, with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem,” he added. “They were a beautiful couple who came to enjoy an evening in Washington’s cultural center.”

The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.