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'This is repulsive': Outcry as 3 Palestinian students shot near University of Vermont in alleged hate crime

The students were walking on Prospect Street when 'they were confronted by a white man with a handgun,' Burlington PD said

BURLINGTON, VERMONT: Amid the growing tension over the Israel-Hamas conflict, the shooting of three Palestinian college students in Vermont has sparked an intense public uproar. The students were shot while walking home from dinner on Saturday, November 25.

Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdel Hamid, and Tahseen Ahmed were walking on Prospect Street when “they were confronted by a white man with a handgun,” Burlington Police Department said in a press release.

“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,” the release continued.

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

Abdelhamid, a student at Haverford College in Pennsylvania, sustained minor injuries in the assault. Awartani, who attends Brown University, has lost feeling in his legs after being shot 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, Daily Mail reported.

Suspect arrested in shooting

A few hours after the incident, police arrested a suspect, identified as Jason J Eaton, 48, while conducting a search of the shooting area in Burlington at 3.38 pm on Sunday.

“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.

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

Easton has since been charged with three counts of aggravated assault and is expected to be arraigned on Monday, according to Daily Beast.

Following the incident, the victims’ families released a joint statement, saying, “As parents, we are devastated by the horrific news that our children were targeted and shot.”

“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 added.

Internet reacts to horrifying shooting

The incident has garnered immense social media attention, with users slamming the government for failing to protect the citizens.

“American politicians are busy condemning antisemitism. While Arabs and Muslims are subjected to all kinds of discrimination,” one user said.

“The targeting of Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Ali, and Kenan Abdulhamid for simply wearing the Palestinian keffiyeh is a painful reminder of the hate and discrimination faced by Palestinians worldwide,” another claimed.

“This is not gun violence. This is a pure hate crime. Stick with the facts,” a third user stated while a fourth wrote, “Unacceptable. Innocent civilians must never be targeted. This is repulsive. Hope they catch the perpetrator."

“The struggle is global! All must be vigilant, best wishes to the three brave young men,” another said. “The Zionists are losing on every ground. And here is their frustration,” someone else wrote.