In a somber incident near the University of Vermont, a Thanksgiving gathering was marred by violence when three students of Palestinian heritage were shot and wounded on Saturday evening, local authorities report. The Burlington Police Department, led by Chief Jon Murad, is actively investigating the shooting that unfolded just before dusk.
Chief Murad detailed that while two of the students are now in a stable condition, the third has sustained grievous injuries. He recounted that the assailant, described only as a white male armed with a handgun, fired at least four shots before fleeing the scene. The victims, identified by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee as Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ahmed, were reportedly approached while walking and conversing in Arabic. Two of the students were wearing traditional Palestinian keffiyeh scarves at the time of the confrontation.
While the motive remains under investigation, Chief Murad did not dismiss the possibility of a hate crime, particularly given the heightened tensions due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. He cautioned against premature conclusions and highlighted ongoing collaboration with federal authorities to ascertain the nature of the crime.
The FBI has acknowledged awareness of the incident, with spokesperson Sarah Ruane affirming the bureau’s readiness to pursue a federal inquiry should evidence of a statutory violation emerge.
In the nation’s capital, the White House confirmed that President Joe Biden has been apprised of the situation and will remain updated as further details come to light. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the shooter.
Senator Bernie Sanders expressed his dismay at the attack and urged a comprehensive probe into the incident. Mayor Miro Weinberger of Burlington has reached out to the family of one of the victims and the city’s Muslim community, vowing support and justice.
The University of Vermont called for discernment regarding the veracity of information surrounding the incident, urging the community to refrain from speculation during the ongoing investigation.
Governor Phil Scott referred to the shooting as a tragedy and extended his support to the city officials in their pursuit of justice. Meanwhile, a tentative ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict appeared to hold as prisoner releases continued under the terms of the armistice.
This act of violence has reverberated through the community, coming at a time of global unrest and rising tensions within the United States over international conflicts.