Following the recent shooting incident in Burlington, Vermont, two mothers have arrived in the U.S. from Jerusalem and the West Bank to visit their injured sons for the first time. The three college students of Palestinian descent, aged 20, were shot and wounded near the University of Vermont campus.
Tamara Tamimi, mother of Kinnan Abdalhamid, traveled from Jerusalem, while Elizabeth Price, mother of Hisham Awartani, came from the West Bank. In an interview with CBS News at Dulles International Airport, both mothers provided updates on their sons' conditions.
Abdalhamid has been discharged from the hospital, where he and his friends were taken after the shooting. However, Awartani, who sustained serious injuries, remains in critical condition and is unable to move his legs due to a bullet damaging his spine. Price informed CBS News that Awartani was scheduled for surgery on Wednesday to repair his clavicle.
According to a spokesperson, the bullet struck the clavicle first, which caused it to lose some momentum before hitting the spinal column. As a result, the bullet became embedded in the spinal column but did not cause any fractures. The spokesperson expressed gratitude that the individual survived, as there was a possibility of losing their child.
The spokesperson also mentioned that the individual, who is currently a junior at Brown University, may be transferred to a rehabilitation center in the coming week due to an incomplete spinal injury that is preventing them from moving their legs.
In addition, another person involved in the incident, named Abdalhamid, was grazed by a bullet in the right buttock. Fortunately, the bullet did not penetrate deeply. Abdalhamid managed to escape and hide after seeing the shooter's pistol. The shooter continued to fire at Abdalhamid, causing distress as he was unable to help his injured friends. Abdalhamid, a pre-med junior at Haverford College, initially believed his friends were dead.
The third victim, Tahseen Ahmad, a student at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., is reported to be in stable condition according to a statement from the college's president and vice president.
Shooting Incident in Burlington
Three individuals, identified as Abdalhamid, Awartani, and Ahmad, were victims of a shooting incident while walking down a street in Burlington on Saturday night. The trio was visiting one of the young man's relatives in the area.
At the time of the shooting, two of the men were wearing traditional Arab keffiyeh scarves. Burlington Police Chief, Jon Murad, stated in a news conference on Monday that the victims were conversing in a mixture of Arabic and English. According to Murad, they reported that the gunman approached them without uttering a word.
The alleged shooter, 48-year-old Jason Eaton, was apprehended on Sunday and has since been charged with three counts of attempted murder in the second degree. Eaton pleaded not guilty to the charges during a court appearance on Monday morning. The judge ordered him to be held without bail, with the possibility of revising the bail at a later time.
The Shooting Incident Amid Ongoing Israel-Hamas War
"Although we do not yet have evidence to support a hate crime enhancement, I do want to be clear that there is no question this was a hateful act," said a representative from the state's attorney for Chittenden County in Vermont, which includes Burlington.
A witness, Tamimi, told CBS News on Wednesday that she believes the ongoing rhetoric about the war in the Gaza Strip played a role in the shooting.
"Words absolutely matter, and it is those words, that rhetoric, it's the dehumanization of Palestinians that has led to this event. Because perpetrators like this defendant are emboldened, because the dehumanization makes it very easy," she said. "And I have to say, if those three boys looked like him [Eaton], were not dressed the way that they were, were not speaking Arabic, I honestly do not think our children would be in the situation that they are now."
The mother of Abdalhamid described her situation as "every mother's nightmare that has just come true."
"And to understand and know that it is because of who they are is absolutely soul-destroying for us," she said.
A strong bond of friendship has formed between Abdalhamid, Awartani, and Ahmad, which dates back to their childhood. Price, who is also a close friend of Tamimi, expressed her complete agreement with Tamimi's sentiments. She emphasized that their time together in the ICU room has further strengthened their bond, as they were able to uplift each other's spirits. Despite facing individual traumas and an uncertain future, their ability to joke and tease one another has helped them cope with the initial trauma and find stability. Price considers them fortunate to have each other.
