Man accused of killing Israeli Embassy staffers indicted on federal hate crime and murder charges

Man accused of killing Israeli Embassy staffers indicted on federal hate crime and murder charges

WASHINGTON (AP) — The man accused offatally shooting two staff membersof the Israeli Embassy in Washington outside a Jewish museum has been indicted on federal hate crime and murder charges, according to court documents unsealed Wednesday. The indictment, filed in federal court in Washington, charges Elias Rodriguez with nine counts, including a hate crime resulting in death. The indictment also includes notice of special findings, which would allow the Justice Department to potentially pursue the death penalty. Elias Rodriguez is accused of gunning down Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim as they left an event at the museum in May. He was heard shouting "Free Palestine" as he was led away after his arrest. He told police, "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza," federal authorities have said. Rodriguez had previously been charged with murder of foreign officials and other crimes, and the hate crimes charges were added after prosecutors brought the case to a grand jury. It means prosecutors will be tasked with proving Rodriguez was motivated by antisemitism when he opened fire on Lischinsky and Milgrim, a young couple who were about to become engaged. Prosecutors have described the killing as calculated and planned, saying Rodriguez flew to the Washington region from Chicago ahead of the Capital Jewish Museum event with a handgun in his checked luggage. He purchased a ticket for the event about three hours before it started, authorities have said in court papers. An attorney for Rodriguez didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday. Witnesses described him pacing outside before approaching a group of four people and opening fire. Surveillance video showed Rodriguez advancing closer to Lischinsky and Milgrim as they fell to the ground, leaning over them and firing additional shots. He appeared to reload before jogging off, officials have said. After the shooting, authorities say Rodriguez went inside the museum and stated that he "did it." "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed," he spontaneously said, according to court documents. He also told detectives that he admiredan active-duty Air Force memberwho set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in February 2024, describing the man as "courageous" and a "martyr."

byAlpha World

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August 06, 2025

Man accused of killing Israeli Embassy staffers indicted on federal hate crime and murder charges

Man accused of killing Israeli Embassy staffers indicted on federal hate crime and murder charges WASHINGTON (AP) — The man accused offatall...

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Federal agents hid in back of rental truck at start of raid outside LA Home Depot

Federal agents hid in back of rental truck at start of raid outside LA Home Depot

LOS ANGELES (AP) — U.S. Border Patrol agents jumped out of the back of a rented box truck and made arrests Wednesday at a Los Angeles Home Depot store during animmigrationraid that an agency official called "Operation Trojan Horse." The early morning raid near downtown LA came just days after a federal appeals courtupheld a federal judge's orderblocking theTrumpadministration from conducting indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in Southern California. "For those who thought immigration enforcement had stopped in Southern California, think again," acting U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli posted on the social platform X after the raid. "The enforcement of federal law is not negotiable and there are no sanctuaries from the reach of the federal government." Messages were sent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security seeking details on the raid, including how many people were arrested. U.S. Border Patrol Sector Chief Greg Bovino reposted Fox News reports of Monday's arrests on X, calling the action "Operation Trojan Horse." Photos on social media showed the moment the rear door of the rented Penske truck opened, revealing several uniformed agents with guns. A spokesperson for Penske Truck Rental said the company was looking into the use of its vehicles by federal officials, saying its regulations prohibit transporting people in truck cargo areas. "The company was not made aware that its trucks would be used in today's operation and did not authorize this," spokesperson Randolph P. Ryerson said in an email. "Penske will reach out to DHS and reinforce its policy to avoid improper use of its vehicles in the future." Since June, the Los Angeles region has been a battleground in the Trump administration's aggressive immigration strategy that spurred protests and thedeployment of the National Guardsand Marines for more than a month. Federal agents have rounded upimmigrantswithout legal status to be in the U.S. from Home Depots, car washes, bus stops,and farms. Some U.S. citizens have also been detained. Lupe Carrasco Cardona, an educator with Union del Barrio, said members of her advocacy group were conducting regular patrols at the Home Depot early Monday when they saw a Penske truck pull into the parking lot, advertising work to the day laborers there. Immigrant workers, some with legal status and others without, often wait in Home Depot parking lots to be hired for various day jobs. "They opened the back, they hopped out and they started indiscriminately just grabbing people," Cardona said. Unmarked white vans with U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents arrived shortly after the truck to participate in the operation, Cardona said. The organization has identified three street vendors and four day laborers that were arrested, but they were still trying to account for others. Family members said one street vendor tried to show evidence of holding asylum before he was arrested, she said. Last month, a federal judge temporarily blocked federal agents from using racial profiling to carry out indiscriminate arrests after the ACLU, Public Counsel and other advocacy groups sued over the practices. Attorneys for the government argued that the order hinders agents from carrying out immigration enforcement, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal on Friday upheld the order. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has previously said that "enforcement operations are highly targeted." The National Day Laborer Organizing Network condemned Wednesday's raid, calling targeted workers the backbone of the local economy. "Today's raid staged by agents in cowboy hats jumping out of a rented van with a TV crew in tow marks a dangerous escalation in the Trump Administration's assault on immigrant communities, the courts, and the people of Los Angeles," Pablo Alvarado, the group's co-executive director, said in a statement.

byAlpha World

in

August 06, 2025

Federal agents hid in back of rental truck at start of raid outside LA Home Depot

Federal agents hid in back of rental truck at start of raid outside LA Home Depot LOS ANGELES (AP) — U.S. Border Patrol agents jumped out of...

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Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne Biopic Still Moving Forward at Sony

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne Biopic Still Moving Forward at Sony

Despite years of sparing updates, a representative for Polygram Entertainment confirmed this week that Sony's Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne biopic is still moving forward, and that "they're currently in negotiations with a director, which could be confirmed very soon." In 2021, Sony announced that it would be making a film based on the heavy metal legend's relationship with his wife and manager. The studio was developing it with Polygram Entertainment and Osbourne Media, the film and television arm of Universal Music Group and the Osbourne family's media label, respectively. Sharon, as well as her and Ozzy's children, Jack and Aimee Osbourne, were attached to produce alongside Polygram's Michele Anthony and David Blackman and Sony's Andrea Giannetti. More from Variety Ozzy Osbourne's Cause of Death Revealed as Heart Attack Rod Stewart Shows AI Images of Ozzy Osbourne In Heaven With Dead Music Icons During Concert Tribute Ozzy Osbourne Funeral: Sharon Osbourne and Family Pay Tribute With Peace Signs as Thousands of Fans Chant 'Thank You Ozzy' in Emotional Procession Lee Hall was attached to write the screenplay, fresh off the success of 2019's "Rocketman," where his script adapted Elton John's life story for the screen. Polygram's recent statement confirms that Hall is still involved alongside the original producing team. Who the team is considering for director or when the selection will be announced remains under wraps. Given Ozzy's iconic persona—both on-stage as the leader of Black Sabbath and an illustrious solo career and on-screen as the central figure in MTV's reality series "The Osbournes" alongside his family—it's no surprise that he has long been an attractive subject for a scripted feature film. Back in 1998, screenwriter Ryan Jaffe ("This Is Happening," "The Rocker") sought to produce a film based on Ozzy and Sharon's relationship. "I was an assistant at Industry Entertainment, before the Osbournes even had a reality show," Jaffe tellsVariety. "There was a 'Behind The Music' about Sharon and Ozzy, and I just thought it was the most amazing love story that I had ever seen. I tried to develop it as a producer. I got the blessing of my boss to pursue it and had several meetings with Sharon and Ozzy." The project, however, never came to fruition. "It was a great experience," Jaffe reflects. "Unfortunately, they weren't able to make a deal with New Line, which was the studio at the time, and it just kind of went away." Years later, Jaffe wrote a screenplay for his Sharon and Ozzy story on spec. "I just loved that story and was never able to let it go," he shares. "I thought it was a very unique way to tell a story that was an interesting take on a biopic: not so straightforward. It was really their story together, how they kind of saved each other's lives in a lot of ways." Titled "Sharon," his script was featured on the 2018 Blacklist and was read by several producers and managers. While some might have expressed interest, the rock-n-roll romance story was written without Sharon or Ozzy's input or blessing. While both are public figures, telling their story justly would likely need their participation. Likewise, an Osbourne biopic would be nothing without Ozzy's music, and securing the licensing rights would add a hefty expense to the project. Varietyreported in 2021 that Sony's film will indeed include music from Black Sabbath as well as Ozzy's solo career. The Osbourne family and Polygram Entertainment, which previously produced scripted and unscripted projects like "The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?," "Beastie Boys Story," "The Go-Gos" and "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist," presumably facilitated the film's use of Ozzy's music. Ozzy Osbourne passed away on July 22 at the age of 76. The singer-songwriter was immensely popular over his fifty-five-year career, and his work has experienced a resurgence since his passing. His music is being listened to precipitously, "The Osbournes" clips are flooding social media and tributes to the artist are ubiquitous. Given that this coincides with Hollywood's penchant for musical biopics like "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Elvis," "A Complete Unknown," and the upcoming Beatles tetralogy as a marketable subgenre, moving forward with an Ozzy film seems natural. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025 Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

byAlpha World

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August 06, 2025

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne Biopic Still Moving Forward at Sony

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne Biopic Still Moving Forward at Sony Despite years of sparing updates, a representative for Polygram Entertainment c...

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Mariah Carey Reveals How She Recovered from 'Not Cool' Wardrobe Malfunction During Brighton Pride Performance

Mariah Carey Reveals How She Recovered from 'Not Cool' Wardrobe Malfunction During Brighton Pride Performance

Samir Hussein/WireImage for ABA Mariah Carey is getting real about handling a wardrobe malfunction mid-performance while headlining Brighton Pride on Aug. 2 In a new interview, the pop star shared how she bounced back from the onstage blunder, which she described as "not cool" Carey wore an array of sparkly looks for the celebratory event, including two bodycon dresses Mariah Careywas her own hero when she saved herself from a wardrobe malfunction. On Aug. 2, the Grammy-winning pop star took the stage to headline Brighton Pride in England, and while she spent "a lot" of time practicing her routine, she faced a small outfit-related blip mid-performance. In an Aug. 6interview on British radio show,Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden,the mom of two, 56, explained the unfortunate experience. "It was a lot of rehearsing and then we had a wardrobe malfunction, which was kind of not cool," she said. "It was right in the front area. I saved it, nobody saw it. Otherwise, it would've been talked about." Samir Hussein/WireImage for ABA Carey explained how she recovered from the blunder and went on with her performance. "I turned around and walked through the dancers," she remembered. "I wassomad." The "Obsessed" singer didn't go into further detail about the faux pas and didn't reveal exactly which one of her outfits took the hit. Although, her selection of dazzling looks in and of themselves were enough to distract fans from the tiny blip. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf For the performance, Carey wore two sparkly and low-cut ombré bodycon dresses, both with thigh-high silver boots and one styled with a bedazzled jacket with "Protect the Dolls" embellished on it. She also slipped into a gold cowl neck mini with matching boots, in addition to an elegant black slip dress paired with glittery platform heels. Following the show, Carey shared a recap of the event onInstagram, writing, "An unforgettable night." Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Samir Hussein/WireImage This summer has been jam-packed with concerts, which also means there's been no shortage of viral wardrobe malfunctions from music's biggest stars. For one,Jennifer Lopezhas been jet-setting around Europe for herUp All Night: Live Tour, and during her stop in Warsaw, Poland, on July 25, the pop staraccidentally revealed her underwearafter her skirt accidentally snapped off and fell to the floor. Lopez bounced back from the scenario like a pro, playing off the incident with a smile and strutting around the stage with her arms in the air. "I'm glad I had underwear on," Lopez began. "I don't usually wear underwear." Beyoncé found herself in a similar situation during her Cowboy Carter Tour concert in London in June. At the time, the mom of three'schaps fell to the stagemid-routine. Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

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August 06, 2025

Mariah Carey Reveals How She Recovered from 'Not Cool' Wardrobe Malfunction During Brighton Pride Performance

Mariah Carey Reveals How She Recovered from 'Not Cool' Wardrobe Malfunction During Brighton Pride Performance Samir Hussein/WireImag...

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Judge issues temporary injunction against Trump administration cancellation of humanities grants

Judge issues temporary injunction against Trump administration cancellation of humanities grants

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge in Oregon issued an injunction Wednesday temporarily stopping the mass cancellation of National Endowment for the Humanities grants to humanities councils around the country, saying the cancellations were likely unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon, an appointee of President Barack Obama, issued a temporary stay on action taken in April by the National Endowment for the Humanities, saying the claims made by plaintiffs in the case were "likely to succeed on their claim that the withholding of the funds at issue in this case is unconstitutional." Defendants' conduct reflects a "deliberate decision to flout Congressional command and refuse to spend appropriated funds," the opinion said, noting, "The United States Constitution exclusively grants the power of the purse to Congress, not the President." The Department of Government Efficiency and the National Endowment for the Humanities canceled dozens of grants to state and local humanities' councils in April as part of PresidentDonald Trump's cost-cutting efforts. The Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Oregon Council for the Humanitiesfiled suit in Mayto reverse the localfunding cuts. Adam Davis, executive director of the Oregon council, called the decision "heartening and motivating. This is one step — among many that are needed — in the large, ongoing endeavor to knit our communities and the country closer together." The National Endowment for the Humanities did not immediately answer a phone call or email for comment. Simon said in issuing the stay that the record contained "unrebutted evidence of irreparable harms," noting that "when these programs are cancelled, there can be no do over and no redress." The judge rejected a request by the NEH that the injunction be stayed. He said the government had not met the standards for such a stay. Simon said the defendants were "likely violating statutory obligations and principles of separation of powers that have existed for decades." The order also stopped the government from "disbursing, encumbering, loaning, granting, or otherwise disposing of the funds committed to Plaintiffs."

byAlpha World

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August 06, 2025

Judge issues temporary injunction against Trump administration cancellation of humanities grants

Judge issues temporary injunction against Trump administration cancellation of humanities grants WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge in Oregon...

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