The man accused of killing two Israeli Embassy staffers outside Washington, D.C.’s Capital Jewish Museum in May pleaded not guilty in federal court on Thursday morning.
The 31-year-old was indicted last month on nine charges, including first-degree murder, murder of a foreign official and executing a hate crime resulting in death. On Thursday, a federal judge said the suspect potentially faces the death penalty.
At the hearing, Elizabeth Mullin, one of the suspect’s attorneys, requested a jury trial but agreed to delay the case until December due to a need to review an influx of evidence gathered by prosecutors, according to The Forward.
Federal prosecutors said the suspect fatally shot Sarah Milgrim, 26, and Yaron Lischinsky, 30, after an event by the American Jewish Committee at the museum. The suspect is accused of firing 21 rounds outside the museum on May 21 while shouting “Free Palestine!”
Clad in an orange jumpsuit, the suspect spoke briefly to tell the clerk that he had received a copy of the charges against him and that he was “satisfied with his legal team,” which was comprised of four attorneys, The Forward reported.
The suspect’s lawyer entered the not guilty plea on the suspect’s behalf during the hearing.
