Washington: The US Justice Department is contemplating pursuing the death penalty against Elias Rodriguez, a man accused of fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, DC, earlier this year.

According to Anadolu Agency, the department is expected to indict Rodriguez on federal hate crime charges later this week. The charges relate to the May shooting that resulted in the deaths of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. Reports indicate that the indictment will likely include special findings that could make the case eligible for capital punishment. A grand jury has been convened to review the evidence presented by the department.

Rodriguez, a 31-year-old Chicago native, was taken into custody after the incident outside the Capital Jewish Museum. During his arrest, he reportedly shouted "Free Palestine," a moment captured in a video that gained significant attention on social media. The charges against him also include murdering foreign officials, causing death with a firearm, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime, as detailed in the criminal complaint.