Three college students of Palestinian descent were shot in Burlington, Vermont, on Saturday night. According to a statement released by the local Police Department, the young people (all 20 years old) are receiving medical attention: "Two are stable, while one has suffered much more serious injuries."
The authorities' report narrates the events. According to the text, the students (two US citizens and one legal resident) were walking along Prospect Street (near the University of Vermont campus) while on their way to visit a relative of one of the victims on on Thanksgiving Day when they were "confronted by a white man with a gun."
"Without speaking, he fired at least four bullets and is believed to have fled." All three victims were hit, two in the torso and one in the lower extremities," said Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad.
Agent Murad revealed that two of the three students were wearing keffiyehs (traditional Palestinian black and white scarves), and that they have not ruled out that it may have been a "hate crime":
In this highly charged time, no one can look at this incident and not suspect that it may have been a hate crime. And I have already been in contact with federal investigative and prosecution partners to prepare for that if it is proven. The fact is that we still don't know everything we want. But I urge the public to avoid drawing conclusions based in statements by uninvolved parties who know even less.
A suspect has already been arrested
The victims' relatives publicly identified them. They are Hisham Awartani (student at Brown University), Kinnan Abdalhamid (a student at Haverford College) and Tahseen Ahmed (a student at Trinity College).
Police arrested a suspect in connection with the shooting. His name is Jason J. Eaton, 48, he was arrested near the scene. According to authorities, a search of his apartment "gave investigators and prosecutors probable cause to believe that Mr. Eaton carried out the shooting." At an arraignment hearing held Monday, the man pleaded not guilty. The judge ordered that he be held without bail.
However, despite official statements pointing to a possible hate crime, "There is no additional information to suggest the suspect's motive." to carry out the attack. According to the police, - so far - agents are "in the early stages of the investigation" and the evidence recovered was sent to a federal database. They have the support of the FBI for the investigation.
#FBIAlbany updated statement regarding the shooting in Burlington, Vermont: pic.twitter.com/UEkm575278
— FBI Albany (@FBIAlbany) November 27, 2023
Groups draw attention
While agents investigate the attack, organizations and groups - in addition to the victims' families - assure that there are " reasons to believe that this shooting occurred because the victims are Arabs." This was stated by the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC ) in a statement:
The ADC calls on Vermont law enforcement to investigate this shooting as a hate crime. Additionally, the ADC has contacted the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to also request an immediate investigation into hate crimes.
The American Jewish Committee (an advocacy organization for the Jewish people) declared on X, formerly Twitter) to be "horrified" by the attack. They have also asked "law enforcement to investigate this act as a possible hate crime":
We are horrified by the shooting of three Palestinian college students in Burlington, VT. We hope for a speedy recovery of the victims and the quick arrest of the perpetrator. We urge law enforcement to investigate this act as a possible hate crime.
We are horrified by the shooting attack against three Palestinian college students in Burlington, VT.
We hope for a quick recovery for the victims and the swift apprehension of the perpetrator.
We urge law enforcement to investigate this act as a possible hate crime.
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) November 26, 2023
