Brown University Students Hold Vigil for Wounded Palestinian Student in Vermont

Burlington, VT (KMVT/KSVT) —

In a display of solidarity and support, students from Brown University gathered last night for a solemn vigil honoring Hisham Awartani, a Palestinian student who was wounded in Burlington, Vermont.

The incident, which took place on Saturday night, involved three Palestinian students—Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Aliahmad, and Kinnan Abdalhamid—all aged 20, who were shot in Burlington. The victims, who sustained gunshot wounds to the spine, chest, and buttocks, are currently receiving medical care.

According to authorities, the three students reported being shot while walking near the University of Vermont, just a block away from Awartani’s grandmother’s house. The incident occurred after the students had spent the afternoon at a local bowling alley, as detailed in a sworn police statement submitted in support of the charges.

The alleged perpetrator, identified as 48-year-old Jason J. Eaton, was arrested and pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges on Monday. He has been ordered to remain in custody without bond.

In an effort to shed light on the accused, it has been revealed that a person with the same name and a similar age attended the University of Idaho from 1998 to 2020. However, the university spokesperson, Danae Lenz, clarified that Eaton did not complete his degree during his intermittent enrollment period.

According to The Daily Beast, Eaton’s resume indicated that he pursued a general studies bachelor’s degree at the University of Idaho and was only seven credits away from graduation. National media outlets have also reported that Eaton had a focus on natural resources.