Suspect Pleads Not Guilty in Burlington Shooting of Palestinian-American Students
The suspect in the shooting that left three Palestinian-American students wounded in Burlington, Vermont, has pleaded not guilty after his arrest by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) on Monday morning. The incident occurred near the University of Vermont on Saturday evening, and the Burlington Police Department identified Jason Eaton as the suspect. The police stated that evidence collected led them to believe that Eaton perpetrated the shooting.
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The three victims, all 20 years old, were identified as Hisham Awartani, a student at Brown University, Kinnan Abdalhamid, a student at Haverford College, and Tahseen Ahmed, a student at Trinity College. They were visiting their homes for Thanksgiving break. Two of the victims are in stable condition, while one sustained more serious injuries.
While no motive has been conclusively determined, a hate crime investigation is underway as the victims were wearing the keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian identity. Vermont’s hate crimes statute applies to crimes motivated by a victim’s national origin.
The Institute for Middle East Understanding issued a statement on behalf of the students’ families expressing concern for their safety and calling for a thorough investigation, including treating the incident as a hate crime.
Hisham Awartani, in an Instagram post on Tuesday, described himself as “one casualty in this much wider conflict.” The gunshot has left him paralyzed from the waist down, as surgical removal is too dangerous.
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Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) expressed shock and deep upset over the incident, stating that hate has no place in Burlington or anywhere else. He called for a full investigation and expressed his thoughts for the victims and their families. Muslim and Arab advocacy groups, such as the Council on American-Islamic Affairs and the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee, also issued statements in support of the Palestinian-American students.
Hate crimes have been on the rise in the US and worldwide since the ongoing war in Gaza began on October 7. This incident highlights the need for increased efforts to combat hate and protect all individuals from violence based on their identity.
