ALBAWABA - Jason Eaton, the man who shot three Palestinian students in Vermont for wearing Keffiyehs near a university campus, has been charged with attempted murder.
Authorities have described the crime as an act of hatred, although prosecutors say there is not yet sufficient evidence to formally charge him with a hate crime, The New Arab reported.
Vermont state attorney Sarah George said that despite sufficient evidence to support a hate crime, "I do want to be clear, there is no question this was a hateful act".
Police said that Jason Eaton, 48-year-old, stepped off a front porch and "unprovoked" opened fire on the three college students as they walked together Saturday on a city block.
The three Palestinians were identified as Hisham Awartani, a student at Brown University, Tahseen Ali, a Trinity University student, and Kenan Abdulhamid, a Harvard University student.
Vermont police described the shooter as a white man with a handgun. "Without speaking," police said, "he discharged at least four rounds from the pistol and is believed to have fled on foot".
A police statement said two of the victims were in stable condition, and the third suffered "much more serious injuries." It said two are US citizens and one a legal resident.
Social media users took to their accounts to offer solidarity to the 3 young Palestinians and express their anger towards the atrocious crime.
One posted: "Hisham Awartani is a Palestinian American junior at Brown University, described as a math genius. He was shot by a white man yesterday in Vermont along with his friends Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ahmed. The 3 students were wearing Keffiyeh. There are fears Hisham may not walk".
Eaton was arrested on Sunday and appeared in court in Burlington on Monday. According to NBC, he pled not guilty to the shootings.
According to Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad, when law enforcement authorities knocked on Eaton's apartment door, he said, "I've been waiting for you." When the agents questioned Eaton as to why he shot the student, Eaton replied, "I would like a lawyer".
Following a thorough search of Eaton's place, Police were able to retrieve a weapon and ammunition that matched the shells recovered from the scene of the shooting.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland warned Monday of increasing threats from "domestic violent extremists" amid growing attacks against minority groups, as he vowed a full investigation into the shooting.
The families of the victims released a statement saying that the incident was a crime fueled by hate.
"We welcome the decision by law enforcement and the Vermont Attorney General's office to continue the investigation and pursuit of hate crimes charges. We believe a full investigation is likely to show our sons were targeted and violently attacked simply for being Palestinian" the statement reads.
