In addition to first-degree murder, the suspect in the shooting deaths of two Israeli embassy employees outside a Jewish museum in Washington, DC, has also been charged with murder of foreign officials and related firearm offenses.
At a press briefing, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated that the incident on Wednesday night is being investigated as a hate crime and that additional charges are anticipated.
She stated on Thursday that “this is a death penalty-eligible case,” but that it is too soon to predict if prosecutors will choose to pursue the death penalty.
“An act of terror and directed violence against the Jewish community” is how FBI field office supervisor Steve Jenson described the murders.
