by Miro Weinberger

The terrible, unprovoked shooting of three Palestinian college students visiting their family in Burlington was a tragic violation of values we hold most dear as a community.

I know many of you have been shaken by this horrible event and have questions and concerns about what happened. This newsletter tells you what I know, and what I am working on in the wake of this violent act.

How are the students doing and how can we support them?

As we shared at Monday’s press conference, two of the three victims are in stable condition, while the third has sustained serious injuries that are likely to have lifelong impacts. They are under the excellent care of the medical team at the UVM Medical Center.

These bright, caring young men are good friends to each other, committed to their families, and are loved and valued by many. They deserved to enjoy a peaceful and joyful visit to our city, not the irreparable violence they endured.

I have been in touch regularly with family members of the victims, who I know are feeling the love and support of the whole community. I have committed to them that City will do everything we can to support them and their loved ones through their recovery.

Family member Rich Price, who spoke at Monday’s press conference and was hosting these young men for Thanksgiving, has asked that I pass along his family’s gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love and support. Rich said, “This heinous crime does not represent who we are as a city or state, but the generosity, care and concern offered to us by our friends, neighbors, local businesses, schools, police, city officials and more does. We thank you all.”

The family has asked that people wishing to give direct financial support do so through this fundraising link: Support Three Young Palestinian Men Shot in Burlington, Vermont | LaunchGood

Yesterday, many national news stories focused on the voices of the victims and their parents and family members. I encourage you take a minute to read and watch these recent stories to hear directly from them about who these special young men are, and how this terrible act of violence has impacted them. Here are a few stories on NPR, MSNBC, and CNN.

Criminal Investigation – when will we know more?

I am grateful that as a result of a huge, coordinated law enforcement response, led throughout by the Burlington Police Department, that we had the suspected shooter off of the street in less than 24 hours. We announced the arrest of Jason Eaton just after midnight Sunday, and on Monday morning Mr. Eaton was arraigned and charged with triple attempted murder, charges that carry the potential for life sentences. The judge has ordered him held without bail.

I appreciate the hard work of our BPD Detective Bureau and the entire Police Department, and our partner agencies in the Chittenden County Gun Violence Taskforce, which was created by Chief Murad during the rise in gun crimes in 2022. The Taskforce was critical in the immediate emergency response on Saturday, as well as in the ongoing investigation. Without the work of local ATF and FBI agents we would not have had this shooter off the street so quickly.

There is no doubt that this heinous crime was a despicable, hateful act against three innocent people. From the early hours of this investigation, BPD detectives have worked closely with federal investigators and our state and federal prosecutors and have prioritized the possibility of hate crimes charges. A state hate crime enhancement on the attempted murder charges will require meeting a high legal threshold. The Associated Press recently published a story explaining this.

I want you to know that this investigation is ongoing, and it is the top priority of my office and of the Burlington Police Detective Bureau. We will continue our strong collaboration with federal partners at the ATF and FBI who have committed significant resources to assist us. We will build as strong a case as possible for our prosecutors to ensure that Mr. Eaton faces the highest level of accountability for this crime.

With the suspect now charged, there is likely not much detail that BPD can share as the investigation develops, and while the State’s Attorney prepares the case. However, we will share factual and reliable information and provide updates from the BPD to the extent possible.

How do we support our Arab and Muslim communities in Vermont?

Since Sunday I have been in touch with some local Arab and Muslim leaders sharing updates about our efforts and trying to understand how we can best support them during this difficult time.

It is very clear that the shooting has shaken many Arab and Muslim Vermonters, confirming their worst fears, that vitriol, hate, and Islamophobia would find them here in Vermont while war continues in the Middle East.

We cannot let the terrible actions of one man define this vibrant and diverse place. It is incumbent on us to once again demonstrate the profound kindness and strength of this community.

Last night I joined a candlelight vigil on Church Street, which was an important opportunity for Burlingtonians and Vermonters to come together and support the victims and all of our Muslim and Arab neighbors.

I also really appreciate this statement from many of Vermont’s Jewish leaders, saying, “We denounce this horrendous violence in our community. And we denounce any hatred that could lead to an act like this.”

I urge Burlingtonians to continue taking actions that show our Arab and Muslim neighbors they are loved, welcomed, and supported here.

For example, consider supporting local Muslim-owned businesses when you can. The Islamic Society of Vermont lists some local businesses here, and at Love Burlington you can see an even larger directory of Burlington businesses, many of which are Muslim and Arab owned, including Brixton Halaal and the Community Halal Store on North Street, and Kismayo Kitchen on Riverside Ave.

I appreciated that even President Biden has been paying close attention to what happened here in Burlington and offering his support to all of us – if you haven’t seen his statement yet you can find it here.

How can we stop gun violence in our community?

I hope that this shooting is the last one in what has already been the violent year in Vermont’s history. Statewide, we have seen ten homicides and one suspicious death since October 1, which includes the double homicide in Burlington on November 12.

Burlington has had 16 gunfire incidents so far this year, and we are not alone in Vermont – many communities are experiencing an alarming rise in gun violence with recent shootings happening in Newport, Danville, St. Johnsbury, Brattleboro, Castleton, Leicester, Brookfield, and last week a road rage incident ended in gunfire in South Burlington.

This is unacceptable. No other country accepts gun violence like this, and neither should we.

The new legislative session is now weeks away, and I will keep fighting for gun safety laws that Burlingtonians support and have been asking for for years.

I will be calling again for new legislation to ban guns from bars and other sensitive spaces, to make reckless endangerment with a firearm a felony, and to better fund statewide research on gun crimes and gun violence. To support efforts to change Vermont’s gun laws, think about getting involved with our local advocacy organizations Gun Sense Vermont and Moms Demand Action.

As always, I welcome you to join me every Wednesday at the Bagel Café to talk about these difficult issues and anything else that is on your mind. You can also contact my office by email at mayor@burlingtonvt.gov or by replying to this email.