Burlington Police Searching for Suspect in Shooting Incident

On Saturday, a disturbing incident occurred in Burlington, Vermont, where a White man shot three 20-year-old men of Palestinian descent. The victims, who were visiting the home of one of their relatives for Thanksgiving, were attacked on Prospect Street by an armed man. The suspect, without uttering a word, fired at least four rounds around 6:30 p.m.

Two of the victims sustained gunshot wounds in their torsos, while the third man was shot in his lower extremities. Although two of the victims are in stable condition, the third victim suffered more severe injuries.

Authorities have revealed that two of the victims were wearing keffiyehs, scarfs that symbolize Palestinian solidarity. It has been disclosed that two of the victims are U.S. citizens, while the other is a legal resident.

The suspect managed to escape on foot, and his identity remains unknown. Investigators have not yet determined the motive behind the attack.

Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad expressed frustration at the lack of information available to investigators. He cautioned the public against making hasty conclusions based on statements from individuals who are not directly involved in the case.

"Given the circumstances surrounding this incident, it is hard to ignore the possibility that it was a hate-motivated crime," stated Murad. "I have already been in contact with federal investigative and prosecutorial partners in order to be prepared if this is proven to be true. However, our immediate focus now is to identify, locate, and apprehend the suspect while ensuring the victims receive the necessary medical care. We are diligently exploring all investigative avenues in this case and will continue to provide accurate information to the public while safeguarding the victims and our ongoing investigation."

The victims have not been officially named by the police, but their families have released a statement identifying them. All three victims are students of Ramallah Friends School, a Quaker-operated nonprofit school in Ramallah. Hisham Awartani is currently enrolled at Brown University, Kinnan Abdalhamid attends Haverford College, and Tahseen Ahmed is a student at Trinity College, according to their family members.

"As parents, we are devastated by the horrifying news that our children were targeted and shot in Burlington, VT. Our main concern at this time is their complete recovery and ensuring they receive the necessary medical assistance to survive. We are deeply worried about the safety and well-being of our children," expressed the parents in a joint statement. "We urge law enforcement to conduct a comprehensive investigation, including treating this as a hate crime. We will not rest until the shooter is brought to justice. It is crucial that our children are protected and that this heinous crime is not repeated. No family should ever have to endure this pain and suffering. Our children are dedicated students who deserve the opportunity to focus on their studies and build their futures."

The president and dean of Haverford College issued a joint statement regarding the shooting incident that occurred on Sunday. They expressed concern for the well-being of Kinnan and his friends, who are Palestinian students studying at various U.S. colleges and universities. The police are currently investigating the shootings, and it is yet to be determined whether it will be treated as a hate crime.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) has stated that they believe the shooting was targeted at the victims because of their Arab background. Abed Ayoub, the ADC National Executive Director, expressed his hopes for the victims' full recovery and pledged support to their families. He also called for law enforcement to investigate the incident as a hate crime, citing the rising anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian sentiment in society.

A White House official confirmed that President Biden has been briefed about the shooting. Senator Bernie Sanders also responded to the incident on social media, expressing his concern.

Shooting Incident in Burlington, VT

"It is shocking and deeply upsetting that three young Palestinians were shot here in Burlington, VT," said a concerned individual. "Hate has no place here, or anywhere. I look forward to a full investigation. My thoughts are with them and their families."

Saturday's shooting comes more than a month after the stabbing death of a 6-year-old Palestinian boy in the Chicago area. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, which describes itself as the country's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, in early November said there'd been an "unprecedented surge".