VERMONT (AP) – Three young men of Palestinian descent who were in Burlington for a Thanksgiving holiday gathering were shot and injured — one seriously — near the University of Vermont, police said Sunday. Authorities said the attack may have been a hate crime.
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The shootings occurred at about 6:25 p.m. Saturday near the UVM campus, according to Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad. He said police are searching for the shooter.
Two of the men are in stable condition and the other suffered “much more serious injuries,” Murad said in a news release Sunday. The three, all age 20, were visiting the home of one of the victim’s relatives and were walking when they were confronted by a white man with a handgun.
“Without speaking, he discharged at least four rounds from the pistol and is believed to have fled,” Murad said in a news release. “All three victims were struck, two in their torsos and one in the lower extremities.”
Murad said all three men are of Palestinian descent. Two are U.S. citizens and one is a legal resident. Two of the men were wearing the black-and-white Palestinian keffiyeh scarves.
Murad said there is no additional information to suggest the suspect’s motive.
“My deepest condolences go out to the victims and their families,” Murad said in the news release. “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.”
He added, “The fact is that we don’t yet know as much as we want to right now. But I urge the public to avoid making conclusions based on statements from uninvolved parties who know even less.”
Before Murad issued his news release, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee released a statement Sunday saying that the victims were Palestinian American college students and that there is “reason to believe this shooting occurred because the victims are Arab.”
The ADC said a man shouted and harassed the victims, who were conversing in Arabic, then proceeded to shoot them.
The FBI said it is aware of the shootings.
“If, in the course of the local investigation, information comes to light of a potential federal violation, the FBI is prepared to investigate,” Sarah Ruane, an FBI spokesperson based in Albany, New York, said in a statement.
The White House said that President Joe Biden was briefed on the shooting and will continue to receive updates as law enforcement gathers more information.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest or conviction of the person or people responsible for the shootings, the organization said in a statement.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont Independent, denounced the attack.
“It is shocking and deeply upsetting that three young Palestinians were shot here in Burlington, VT. Hate has no place here, or anywhere. I look forward to a full investigation,” Sanders said in statement. “My thoughts are with them and their families.”
Demonstrations have been widespread and tensions are escalating in the United States as the death toll rises in the Israel-Hamas war. A fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas was back on track Sunday as the militants freed more hostages in a third set of releases under a four-day cease-fire deal.
Wow, mighty quick to call it a hate crime compared to when the Jew is the victim and we often hear “there’s no reason to believe it was a hate crime”.
The remarks, from Yidden who are supposed to be better educated than the general population, which show disdain to the victims, never cease to amaze me. The fact of the matter is that the victims were three college students from universities outside of Burlington. They have zero connection to drugs, or terror groups. They were merely visiting friends for the Thanksgiving holiday. Two of them are U.S. citizens, and the third is a legal resident. Chas v’shalom, the three victims could have been Yidden. Would any of you have made such disgusting remarks in that case?
Fake news. This will turn out to have nothing to do with them Being muslim I guarantee it. Probably a drug
Deal gone wrong
CAIR would love nothing more than to hear that it was a hate crime committed by Zionists. And if they can’t get the proof, they can fabricate it and spread it like the fake news story of the Arab who was beaten up by his brother, but claimed that Jews did it.
There is no video evidence. They probably shot each other. If there is video it was probably AI generated. There is no proof. Who said the three even existed. Hamas did it. Let’s throw at them the same BS they ditch at us.
Vermont is 99% white progressive leftists.
Well, you’ve established to the world that wearing a kefiah may mean you’re in your way to maim murder rape innocents in the vicinity and frightened those seeing you enter their space
another Jesse Smolet story ?????????????/
Shooting 3 college students in kaffiyahs doesn’t help anyone. Its criminal.
We should all condemn the attempted murder of any innocent person, Muslim or not. However, I’m convinced that these students were likely celebrating the events of Oct the 7th just like the majority of other Palestinians were doing. When you celebrate my brother’s & sister’s murder, I don’t feel bad for you when you get a taste of your own medicine. If these students were from the minority of Arabs who condemmned the events of Oct 7, then I take back my comment.
Take a page out of their book: no one was shot; nothing happened. They are well-paid actors.
Sorry, but it’s really hard to deal bad for them. Not sorry. Supporters of evil are evil themselves.
Their words sounded Hebrew to this thug so he shot them. At night you can’t tell so well by sight.
Jason J. Eaton, a 48 year old White man has been arrested. He attacked the three directly in front of his apartment building. The three victims were buddies from a Quaker school they attended in Palestine.