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2023 shooting of Palestinian students in Burlington, Vermont

Coordinates: 44°29′15.45″N 73°13′53.34″W / 44.4876250°N 73.2314833°W / 44.4876250; -73.2314833
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2023 shooting of Palestinian students in Burlington, Vermont
Map
Burlington, Vermont
LocationBurlington, Vermont, United States
Coordinates44°29′15.45″N 73°13′53.34″W / 44.4876250°N 73.2314833°W / 44.4876250; -73.2314833
DateNovember 25, 2023
6:25 p.m. ET[1]
Attack type
Shooting
Injured3
ChargesAttempted second-degree murder (3 counts)

On November 25, 2023, three 20-year-old students of Palestinian descent were shot and injured in Burlington, Vermont.[2] The students, who were visiting Burlington for Thanksgiving break,[3] were wearing keffiyehs to show solidarity with Palestine amid the ongoing war in Gaza when they were shot near the University of Vermont.[4] A suspect was arrested the following day, with the Burlington Police Chief stating the shooting was being investigated as a possible hate crime.[5]

Shooting

Three Palestinian 20-year-old male college students were returning to the home of one of their grandmothers after spending time bowling during a birthday party and were near the University of Vermont and the UVM Medical Center.[6] They had been in Burlington since November 22, and were staying at the home of one of the student’s grandmothers.[7] The students were reported to be speaking a mixture of Arabic and English and two of them were wearing keffiyehs[8] when the suspect walked up to them and began to shoot at them, apparently only striking two of them when he was about 6 ft (1.8 m) away. One of the wounded was able to call 911, while the third fled to a neighbor’s home before realizing he had been shot, while asking for them to call 911.[9][7]

Victims

The victims were male Palestinian students at Brown University, Trinity College, and Haverford College.[10] The three men grew up together and had all attended the Ramallah Friends School, a Quaker run kindergarten through 12th grade school, in the occupied West Bank.[6][11] Two of the students were Palestinian-American US citizens, and the third was a permanent legal resident.[12]

All three students were wounded, with one shot in the chest, another in the spine, and one through his backside.[7] The mother of the most seriously injured victim told NPR that doctors had told the family it was unlikely her son would be able to use his legs again.[11] In response to the news, the personal physician of King Abdullah II of Jordan reached out to the boy's family to identify his medical needs and send a specialist.[13] In a statement, the young man said he was "one casualty in a much wider conflict."[14] His family later confirmed that he was paralyzed from the chest down due to a bullet lodged in his spine.[15]

In a statement following the shooting, the student who was permanently disabled said, "Had I been shot in the West Bank, where I grew up, the medical services that saved my life here would likely have been withheld by the Israeli Army. The soldier who shot me would go home and never be convicted."[16]

Suspect

A 48-year old white male suspect was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted murder in the second degree, with investigations into possible hate crime charges continuing.[17] When federal agents knocked on his door to arrest him, the suspect reportedly opened the door and told officials, "I've been waiting for you," and refused to say anything else.[7] A subsequent search of his home revealed a pistol along with ammunition that was the same brand and caliber as shell casings found at the scene of the shooting.[17]

The suspect was arraigned via video link on November 27, pled not guilty and is being held without bail. He is currently being charged with three felony counts and if convicted will potentially face life in prison.[18][8]

Reactions

U.S. Senator and former Burlington Mayor Bernie Sanders stated it was "deeply upsetting that three young Palestinians were shot here in Burlington, VT. Hate has no place here, or anywhere. I look forward to a full investigation".[5] U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated, "There is understandable fear in communities across the country".[19] President Joe Biden condemned the attack.[20] Vermont senator Peter Welch also condemned the attack.[21][22] Vice-president Kamala Harris called the attack "senseless."[23] Ambassador Husam Zomlot stated, "The hate crimes against Palestinians must stop."[24] The Vermont state attorney for Chittenden County called it a "hateful act".[25]

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee stated, "We have reason to believe that the shooting was motivated by the three [victims] being Arab."[26] A group of Burlington-area rabbis spoke out about the shooting in a joint statement condemning the shooting and hope that the perpetrator was brought to justice, the group had also contacted the Islamic Center of Vermont to offer a message of support.[27]

At a vigil for the students at Brown University on November 27, protestors demanded that the university divest from Israel, leading university president Christina Paxson to leave the podium while students chanted "Shame! Shame! Shame!" at her.[28] A peaceful sit-in at University Hall took place on December 6, organized by the "Brown Divest Coalition." Forty-one students were arrested and charged with trespassing. More than 200 students protested about the arrests on December 11.[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Arrest made in shooting of 3 men of Palestinian descent in Burlington: What to know". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  2. ^ Reed, Elodie. "Burlington police make arrest after shooting of three men of Palestinian descent". Vermont Public Radio. Archived from the original on 2023-11-26. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  3. ^ Patterson, Brittany. "A suspect is arrested in the shooting of 3 men of Palestinian descent in Vermont". NPR. Morning Edition. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  4. ^ Hauslohner, Abigail. "Man arrested after three Palestinian American students injured in Vermont shooting". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 26 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  5. ^ a b Bubola, Emma (26 November 2023). "Police Arrest Suspect in Shooting of 3 Palestinian Students in Vermont". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b McLaughlin, Erin; Li, David (2023-11-28). "Brown University student shot just down the street from 'granny's house,' mom says". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  7. ^ a b c d Petri, Alexandra E; Goldberg, Noah (2023-11-27). "'I've been waiting for you': Vermont shooting is being investigated as a hate crime". Hastings Tribune. Archived from the original on 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  8. ^ a b Cabral, Sam (2023-11-27). "Vermont shooting: Victim jumped fence to escape attack after he was hit". www.aol.com. Archived from the original on 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  9. ^ Borter, Gabriella. "Three students of Palestinian descent shot in Vermont, suspect arrested". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2023-11-26. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  10. ^ Wolfe, Elizabeth (27 November 2023). "3 Palestinian college students shot in Vermont are hospitalized in the ICU as suspect pleads not guilty". CNN. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  11. ^ a b Mann, Brian (November 27, 2023). "Mother of Palestinian student shot in Vermont thought he would be safer in U.S." NPR. Archived from the original on November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  12. ^ de Guzman, Chad (27 November 2023). "Who Are the Three Palestinian Students Who Were Shot in Vermont? What We Know So Far". Time Magazine. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  13. ^ Wolfe, Elizabeth (28 November 2023). "1 of 3 Palestinian students shot in Vermont may never walk again after bullet hit his spine, his mother says". CNN. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  14. ^ Yousif, Nadine (28 November 2023). "'Granny, I've been shot,' said Palestinian student targeted in Vermont". BBC. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  15. ^ Kim, Juliana (December 3, 2023). "Palestinian student shot in Vermont is paralyzed from chest down, his family says". NPR. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  16. ^ Ali, Rozina. "Raised in the West Bank, Shot in Vermont". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  17. ^ a b Picciotto, Rebecca (26 November 2023). "Vermont gunman fired as investment adviser weeks before arrest in Palestinian student shooting". CNBC. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  18. ^ Russell, Jenna (27 November 2023). "Vermont Man Charged With Attempted Murder for Shootings of Palestinian Students". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  19. ^ Rathke, Lisa (26 November 2023). "Suspect in shooting of 3 men of Palestinian descent near the University of Vermont pleads not guilty". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 26 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  20. ^ Crisp, Elizabeth (27 November 2023). "Biden condemns shooting of Palestinian students: 'No place for violence or hate in America'". The Hill. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  21. ^ Garrity, Kelly (26 November 2023). "Police arrest suspect in the shooting of 3 men of Palestinian descent near the University of Vermont". Politico. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  22. ^ "Vermont leaders respond to shooting of 3 Palestinian-American men". WCAX. 27 November 2023. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Statement from Vice President Harris on Shooting of Palestinian Students in Burlington, Vermont". The White House. 28 November 2023. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  24. ^ Lambert, Lisa (27 November 2023). "Suspect pleads not guilty after three men of Palestinian descent shot in Vermont". BBC. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  25. ^ McKay, Rich. "Vermont man charged with attempted murder in shooting of students of Palestinian descent". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2023-11-29. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  26. ^ Michael, Chris (27 November 2023). "Suspect arrested in shooting of three Palestinian students in Vermont". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  27. ^ Cotton, Emma (2023-11-27). "'Tragic irony:' Burlington shooting victims' family members say they're shocked by violence so far from the Middle East". VTDigger. Archived from the original on 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  28. ^ Brigham, Noble. "Brown University students hold vigil for fellow student shot in Vermont". The Providence Journal. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  29. ^ Russo, Amy (2023-12-19). "Brown University pushes ahead with criminal charges against 41 student protesters". The Providence Journal. Archived from the original on 2023-12-30. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
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