Jason J Eaton: Suspect, 48, arrested for shooting 3 Palestinian college students in Vermont

BURLINGTON, VERMONT: Jason J Eaton, a 48-year-old man has been arrested in relation to the shooting of three Palestinian college students in Vermont as the life of one hangs in danger.

Eaton was taken into custody at around 3:30 pm on Sunday, November 26, 2023, after he was identified by the police as a suspect in the shooting, the Burlington Police Department said in a press release.

He faces three counts of aggravated assault and is expected to be arraigned on Monday, according to Daily Beast.

Officials claim that Eaton resides in an apartment complex close to the location where Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdelhamid, and Tahseen Ahmed were shot on their way home after Thanksgiving dinner at Awartani's grandmother's house on Saturday.

Although a probable reason for the shooting has not been disclosed, Burlington Police had earlier stated that it was conceivable the friends—two of whom are US citizens—were targeted because they are Arab.

"On Sunday afternoon ATF agents who were conducting a canvass at the location of the shooting encountered and detained Jason J Easton," Burlington Police said in a statement, according to Daily Mail.

“Detectives completed a search warrant for Mr Easton's residence in the apartment building in front of which the shooting took place,” the cops added.

“Evidence collected during that search warrant and additional evidence developed during the course of this investigation gave investigators and prosecutors probable cause to believe that Mr Easton perpetrated the shooting,” the statement continued.

What are victims of the shooting?

Authorities previously revealed that the three 20-year-old students had been walking on Prospect Street when a White man with a handgun confronted them.

“The suspect was on foot in the area. Without speaking, he discharged at least four rounds from the pistol and is believed to have fled on foot,” Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad explained.

“In this charged moment, no one can look at this incident and not suspect that it may have been a hate-motivated crime,” he added.

The assault caused minor injuries to Abdelhamid, who is a student at Pennsylvania's Haverford College. However, Awartani, who was attending Brown University, lost feeling in his legs after being wounded close to the spine, according to his great-uncle Marwan Awartani, a former education minister of the Palestinian Authority.

Meanwhile, Ahmed, a student at Trinity College in Connecticut, was shot in the chest and is currently in "touch and go" condition, according to Abed A Ayoub.

“They were doing what millions of other students were doing this weekend: getting away for the holiday and reconnecting with friends and family,” stated the national executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

“They were doing what millions of other students were doing this weekend: getting away for the holiday and reconnecting with friends and family,” he further said.

“Given the information collected and provided, it is clear that the hate was a motivating factor in this shooting,” he added.

Family devastated after horrific shooting in Vermont

The families of the three Palestinian students have been left devastated after the horrific shooting. “As parents, we are devastated by the horrific news that our children were targeted and shot,” they said in a public statement.

“We will not be comfortable until the shooter is brought to justice. We need to ensure that our children are protected, and this heinous crime is not repeated,” the statement read.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders also expressed his anger, stating that it was “deeply upsetting that three young Palestinians were shot here in Burlington, Vermont. Hate has no place here, or anywhere. I look forward to a full investigation.”

Following the shooting, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger promised that law enforcement would “work relentlessly to bring the shooter to justice”.

"We will do everything in our power to find the perpetrator and hold them fully accountable. That there is an indication this shooting could have been motivated by hate is chilling,” he added.