The suspect in a Burlington, Vermont shooting that left three Palestinian-American students wounded has pleaded not guilty after his arrest by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The incident occurred near the University of Vermont, and the suspect has been identified as Jason Eaton.
The three victims, all students at different universities, were on a visit to their homes for the Thanksgiving break. Their conditions vary, with one sustaining serious injuries. An ongoing hate crime investigation has been initiated, given that all the victims were found wearing the keffiyeh, a symbol of their Palestinian identity.
The Institute for Middle East Understanding has issued a statement on behalf of the victims’ families, calling for a complete investigation. One of the victims, paralyzed due to gunshot injuries, issued an Instagram statement, portraying himself as one casualty in a more extensive conflict.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has condemned the incident and called for a thorough investigation in a statement on Twitter. Various advocacy groups have also issued statements of support for the students, an indication of the deep concern caused by the rising number of hate crimes in the US and across the globe.