A 48-year-old Vermont man was charged on Monday with three counts of attempted second-degree murder in the weekend shooting of three young men of Palestinian descent on a Burlington street, a violent episode that stunned the small city.
As investigators sought to determine whether the shooting could be classified as a hate crime, local officials called the attack on the three men — college students who were visiting for Thanksgiving — one of the most shocking events in Burlington’s history, and a grave setback for a city that strives to be welcoming.
“Whether or not it was a hate crime by the law, there is no question it was a hateful act,” Chief Jon Murad of the Burlington police said at a news conference on Monday afternoon.
The suspect, Jason J. Eaton, pleaded not guilty on Monday and was being held without bail. He appeared in court through a remote video link from jail, and did not speak during the brief hearing except to thank the judge. If convicted, he could face life in prison.
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