The Independent
· collected 2026-09-15 · by Michael R. Sisak
In November 2023, Jason Eaton, 51, ambushed and shot three Palestinian college students—Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Aliahmad, and Kinnan Abdalhamid—in Burlington, Vermont. Eaton claims he was commanded by an NPR radio station to carry out the attack as part of a divine mission. He faces trial on charges of second-degree attempted murder and has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, arguing that he was experiencing a psychotic break due to severe schizophrenia. Prosecutors argue that Eaton understood the criminality of his actions despite his delusions.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On November 2023, Jason Eaton, a 51-year-old man, opened fire on three Palestinian college students—Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Aliahmad, and Kinnan Abdalhamid—in Burlington, Vermont. The incident occurred during the Israel-Hamas war when the victims were returning from celebrating at a local bowling alley near Awartani’s grandmother’s house. Eaton faces three counts of second-degree attempted murder but has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, claiming he was acting under instructions from the CIA and Mossad, among other delusions. Prosecutors have not filed hate crime enhancements due to lack of explicit evidence of anti-Palestinian bias as a legal motive, though the attack sparked widespread condemnation. The trial began in Chittenden County with Eaton sitting quietly at his defense table, marking the start of a high-stakes legal battle over mental state and intent.
Written for “Vermont Shooter Claims NPR Commanded” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 9934 · logged 2026-09-15
A quiet college town became the backdrop for horror when an afternoon walk ended in bloodshed, leaving three childhood friends permanently altered and launching a high-stakes legal battle over mind, motive, and murder.
asserted
walk → become → mind
On Monday, 51-year-old Jason Eaton sat stoically at the defense table in a packed Chittenden County courtroom as opening arguments began in his trial.
asserted
arguments → sit → trial
Eaton faces three counts of second-degree attempted murder for the November 2023 ambush of three Palestinian college students: Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Aliahmad, and Kinnan Abdalhamid, who were all 20 at the time of the shooting.
asserted
who → face → shooting
Eaton has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
asserted
Eaton → plead → insanity
He does not deny pulling the trigger, but his defense claims he was trapped in a psychotic break—convinced he was acting under direct instructions from the CIA, Mossad, and God.
uncertain
he → deny → CIA
The horrific incident unfolded just weeks after the start of the Israel-Hamas war, during a quiet Thanksgiving weekend visit to Awartani’s grandmother’s house in Burlington.
asserted
incident → unfold → Burlington
The three young men—who grew up together in Ramallah before moving to the U.S. for university—had spent the afternoon celebrating a birthday at a local bowling alley.
asserted
who → grow → alley
Just after dusk, they walked near the University of Vermont campus, speaking a blend of English and Arabic, with two of them wearing traditional Palestinian keffiyehs.
asserted
two → walk → keffiyehs
As they passed an apartment building, Eaton stepped off his porch and walked directly toward them without uttering a word.
asserted
Eaton → pass → word
From just feet away, he drew a Ruger .380-caliber handgun and unleashed a barrage of bullets.
asserted
he → draw → bullets
Awartani was shot in the chest, the bullet shattering his scapula and severing his spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
asserted
bullet → shoot → waist
Aliahmad was struck in the collarbone, while Abdalhamid was shot in the buttock as he scrambled for cover behind a neighboring home.
asserted
he → strike → home
Taking the stand on Monday, Awartani, now 23 and testifying from a wheelchair, recounted the terrifying moment Eaton silently opened fire.
asserted
Eaton → take → fire
Jurors listened to frantic 911 calls, including Awartani pleading for help as he lay bleeding on the pavement, believing he was about to die.
asserted
he → listen → pavement
A neighbor testified to bringing blankets to the wounded men while waiting for emergency responders.
asserted
neighbor → testify → responders
Defense attorney Joshua O’Hara told the jury that Eaton was suffering from severe, delusional schizophrenia after losing his job at a credit union two weeks prior.
asserted
Eaton → tell → union
According to O’Hara, Eaton believed his local NPR radio station was broadcasting covert messages commanding him to execute an "overwatch mission" to protect local Jewish families across the street.
uncertain
station → accord → street
His attorney argued that Eaton was utterly incapable of understanding the wrongfulness of his actions at the time.
asserted
Eaton → argue → time
Prosecutors painted a drastically different picture, describing Eaton as an arrogant man driven by a desire for control who fully understood the criminality of his conduct.
asserted
who → paint → conduct
Deputy State’s Attorney Sally Adams pointed out that state psychiatric evaluations determined Eaton did not meet the legal threshold for insanity.
asserted
Eaton → point → insanity
Authorities noted that Eaton had legally purchased the handgun months earlier, hid inside a vehicle when police arrived to execute a search warrant, and harbored three shotguns inside his home.
asserted
police → note → home
Though the tragic attack sparked widespread condemnation and calls for hate crime charges, prosecutors have not filed hate crime enhancements, citing a lack of explicit evidence regarding anti-Palestinian bias as the legal motive.
asserted
prosecutors → spark → motive
If convicted on the attempted murder charges, Eaton faces up to life in prison.
asserted
Eaton → convict → prison
If found not guilty by reason of insanity, he would be committed to a state psychiatric hospital for indefinite treatment.
asserted
he → find → treatment
The Aporia
