Suspect arrested in shooting of 3 men of Palestinian descent in Vermont
A suspect was arrested on Sunday in the weekend shooting of three Palestinian men near the University of Vermont, according to police.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested Jason J. Eaton, 48, during a search in the area of the shooting shortly after 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, the Burlington Police Department confirmed on Monday.
Evidence was also collected in a search of Eaton's apartment in a building located near the location of the shooting, police said.
The three men, each 20 years old and of Palestinian descent, were visiting the home of one victim's relatives in Burlington for the Thanksgiving holiday and were walking on the street when a man approached them with a handgun and fired at least four rounds, officials added.
Two of the three men were in stable condition while a third suffered "much more serious injuries," police said on Saturday, adding that two of the men were shot in their torso while one was shot in the lower extremities.
“My deepest condolences go out to the victims and their families,” Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad said in a statement on Saturday. “In this charged moment, no one can look at this incident and not suspect that it may have been a hate-motivated crime. And I have already been in touch with federal investigatory and prosecutorial partners to prepare for that if it’s proven.”
“The fact is that we don’t yet know as much as we want to right now,” Murad added. “But I urge the public to avoid making conclusions based on statements from uninvolved parties who know even less.”
Murad also said two of the victims were wearing keffiyehs at the time of the shooting.
Two of the victims are U.S. citizens and the third is a legal resident, according to police. All three are students studying at U.S. universities
The shooting comes amid a rise in Islamophobic incidents across the United States since the beginning of the war between Israel and the militant group Hamas last month that has killed thousands on both sides of the conflict.
The Albany FBI office said in a statement it was aware of the incident and was working with state and local partners in Vermont.
”If, in the course of the local investigation, information comes to light of a potential federal violation, the FBI is prepared to investigate," Albany FBI spokesperson Sarah Ruane said.
Eaton is expected to be arraigned on Monday, police said.