Police in Burlington, Vermont are currently conducting a manhunt for a suspect who shot and injured three Palestinian students visiting the city for Thanksgiving. The incident occurred on Saturday evening, when the victims, who were walking together and wearing traditional Palestinian CFA scarves, were confronted by a white man with a handgun. Without uttering a word, the suspect fired at least four rounds before fleeing the scene on foot.
Witnesses at the scene described the moments of terror as they heard gunshots and saw one of the victims in pain. The three men, all 20 years old, were quickly transported to the hospital for treatment. The identities of the victims have been revealed as Hama Attar, a junior at Brown University, Kinan Abdal Hamid, a junior at Haford College, and Tassin Akmed, a junior at Trinity College. These close friends grew up together in the West Bank City of Rala.
Officials have yet to determine the motive behind the shooting, but the families of the victims have issued a joint statement calling for the investigation to be treated as a hate crime. They express their devastation at the targeting and shooting of their children, emphasizing their fear that this was an attack against Palestinians.
The mayor of Burlington, while acknowledging that the motive remains unknown, has prioritized the possibility of a hate crime in the ongoing police investigation. The community is coming together to support the victims and their families during this difficult time.
Recovery and Support
As of now, two of the victims remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with Hisham being treated for a gunshot wound to the spine. His parents, who reside in the West Bank, are urgently trying to travel to the United States to be by his side.
The victims’ former school director, Ronnie Amaya, describes them as incredible students, and the entire community is proud of their achievements. They had come to Burlington to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with Hisham’s grandmother.
The police are actively searching for the suspect, and anyone with information is urged to come forward. The investigation is ongoing, and updates will be provided as more details emerge.
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