Vermont Man Convicted of Attempted Murder in Shooting of Palestinian Students
Jason Eaton, 51, was convicted of attempted murder for a November 2023 shooting that injured three Palestinian students near the University of Vermont. The jury rejected his insanity defense, and Eaton now faces a possible life sentence.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A jury in Burlington, Vermont, delivered a verdict on Monday that found 51‑year‑old Jason Eaton guilty of attempted murder for a November 2023 shooting that left a Palestinian student paralyzed and two others wounded. The trial, which lasted a week, ended after several hours of deliberation, and Eaton now faces a potential life sentence in prison.
What Happened
On the evening of November 24, 2023, three Palestinian college students—Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Aliahmad, and Kinnan Abdalhamid—were walking near Eaton’s apartment building on the edge of the University of Vermont campus. Eaton opened fire on the men, shooting Awartani in the chest and causing a spinal injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Aliahmad was struck in the collarbone, and Abdalhamid was wounded in the right buttock. The incident occurred a few days after Thanksgiving and weeks after the start of the Israel‑Hamas war, sparking national attention and calls for a hate crime investigation.
Trial and Verdict
The case went to trial in Burlington’s Superior Court, where the prosecution presented testimony from the wounded students and forensic evidence linking a Ruger .380‑caliber handgun found in Eaton’s apartment to the shooting. Defense attorneys argued that Eaton was suffering from a delusional, psychotic disorder and should be found not guilty by reason of insanity. They claimed he believed he was receiving orders from the CIA and Mossad via FM radio and that God was commanding him to protect his Jewish neighbors.
Despite the defense’s arguments, the jury rejected the insanity plea. After deliberating for several hours, they returned a guilty verdict for attempted murder. Eaton was ordered to be held in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. He stared blankly as the verdict was read, while Awartani and Aliahmad, who sat in the front row of the courtroom gallery, smiled and hugged those around them.
Background on the Victims
All three men were 20 at the time of the shooting and had grown up in Ramallah, West Bank, where they became friends while attending school. They later moved to the United States for college: Awartani was studying at Brown University in Rhode Island, Aliahmad was a student at Trinity College in Connecticut, and Abdalhamid was attending Haverford College near Philadelphia. The three had planned a holiday weekend visit to Awartani’s grandmother’s house, followed by a trip to a bowling alley to celebrate his twin cousins’ birthday. After the celebrations, they took a walk near the University of Vermont campus after dusk—a walk that ended in tragedy.
Key Evidence and Witnesses
During the trial, witnesses recounted the sequence of events. Awartani described seeing Eaton standing on a porch as they approached his apartment building, then watching him walk toward them and pull out a handgun within 10 feet. He was shot in the chest, and the bullet ricocheted off his scapula, causing a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
Abdalhamid said he fled and hid behind another home after seeing Aliahmad fall to the ground. He realized later that he had also been wounded. Jacob Pyne, a neighbor who lived in a different apartment in the same building, testified that he heard four to six gunshots, followed by footsteps going up the stairs. He ran outside, heard two men speaking, and called 911 after seeing one of them in distress.
Forensic analysis linked the Ruger handgun to the shooting, and authorities found three shotguns in Eaton’s apartment. Prosecutor Sally Adams noted that Eaton had purchased the handgun seven months earlier from a Vermont gun store.
Aftermath and Next Steps
Following the verdict, Eaton’s legal team will prepare for sentencing, which could result in a life sentence. The case remains a stark reminder of how quickly a violent act can ripple through communities. While no hate crime charges were filed, the incident has prompted discussions about the role of mental health and extremist rhetoric in violent crimes. The victims, now 23, have spoken publicly about their experiences, with Awartani using a wheelchair and continuing to advocate for peace and understanding.
As the legal process moves forward, the Burlington community and the broader public will watch closely to see how justice is served and what measures might be taken to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Key facts
- Jason Eaton convicted of attempted murder for shooting three Palestinian students in Burlington, Vermont
- The jury rejected Eaton’s insanity defense citing his claims of CIA and Mossad orders
- Victims: Hisham Awartani paralyzed, Tahseen Aliahmad and Kinnan Abdalhamid wounded
- Forensic evidence linked a Ruger .380 handgun found in Eaton’s apartment to the shooting
- No hate crime charges filed, but the case sparked national debate on extremism and mental health
Why it matters
The conviction underscores the seriousness of violent acts fueled by extremist beliefs and highlights the importance of addressing mental health and hate‑crime concerns in the United States.
Frequently asked questions
What was the outcome of Jason Eaton’s trial?
A jury found him guilty of attempted murder and he faces a possible life sentence.
Were hate crime charges filed?
No hate crime charges were filed, though the incident prompted calls for such an investigation.
What evidence linked Eaton to the shooting?
Forensic testing linked a Ruger .380 handgun found in his apartment to the crime, and witnesses testified to his actions.
Sources
- [1] latimes.com — originally reported as “Jury convicts Vermont man of attempted murder in shooting of 3 Palestinian students”
