POLICE IN BURLINGTON VERMONT HAVE ARRESTED A SUSPECT IN THE SHOOTING OF THREE STUDENTS OF PALESTINIAN DESCENT WHO WERE WOUNDED NEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT ON SATURDAY.
THE SUSPECT — IDENTIFIED AS FORTY EIGHT YEAR OLD JASON J. EATON – IS SET TO BE ARRAIGNED TODAY IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHOOTING.
POLICE SAY THE THREE STUDENTS – ALL MEN IN THEIR TWENTIES WHO ATTEND OTHER U.S. COLLEGES – WERE SHOT OUTSIDE THE HOME OF ONE OF THE VICTIM’S RELATIVES THEY WERE VISITING OVER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY. THE SHOOTING SCENE WAS ALSO NEAR EATON’S APARTMENT BUILDING.
POLICE SAY THE GUNMAN FIRED HIS WEAPON AT LEAST FOUR TIMES – WITHOUT SPEAKING.
TWO OF THE STUDENTS WERE WEARING TRADITIONAL PALESTINIAN SCARVES AT THE TIME.
AUTHORITIES SAY TWO OF THE VICTIMS ARE U.S. CITIZENS — THE THIRD IS A LEGAL RESIDENT.
ONE OF THE STUDENTS SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES – THE OTHERS ARE IN STABLE CONDITION.
AUTHORITIES SAY THEY ARE INVESTIGATING WHETHER THE SHOOTING WAS A HATE CRIME.