Case Moves Forward as Court Sets Deadlines for Depositions
A Vermont man charged with the 2023 shooting of three college students of Palestinian descent has been deemed mentally fit to stand trial. The judge presiding over the case confirmed the finding on Tuesday after a psychological evaluation of the accused, Jason Eaton, 49, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder.
Details of the Shooting Incident
The three students—Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, all 20 at the time—were shot and injured on November 25, 2023, while walking in Eaton’s neighborhood near the University of Vermont. According to police reports, the students were conversing in a mix of English and Arabic, and two wore black-and-white Palestinian keffiyeh scarves. The students have stated that the shooter approached them and fired without speaking.
Increased threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities have been reported across the United States since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Judge Finds Eaton Fit to Stand Trial
During Tuesday’s hearing, the court reviewed the psychological evaluation determining Eaton’s fitness to proceed with trial, and the judge granted defense attorneys additional time to prepare depositions. Defense attorney Peggy Jansch requested an extension, pushing the deposition deadline to June 2025, citing the original December 16 deadline as unfeasible. Judge John Pacht set a revised deadline for May 31, 2025, with a status hearing scheduled for early March.
Debate Over Hate Crime Classification
Though the families of the victims argue that the shooting should be classified as a hate crime, prosecutors say they lack sufficient evidence to support this classification. Eaton has been held without bail since his arrest in Burlington last year.
As the trial preparation continues, the case has attracted national attention, highlighting concerns over hate-based violence and the legal challenges in categorizing hate crimes.
