Jason Eaton Declared Fit for Trial in Shooting Case

Jason Eaton, accused of shooting three Palestinian college students in Burlington, Vermont, has been deemed fit to stand trial following a psychiatric evaluation. The judge granted an extension for depositions to be completed by May 31, 2025, after Eaton's public defender requested more time, which the prosecution contested. While Eaton faces three counts of attempted second-degree murder and has pleaded not guilty, prosecutors indicate there is currently insufficient evidence to pursue hate crime enhancements, as Vermont law requires specific bias-motivated actions during the crime. The victims were conversing in Arabic and wearing keffiyeh scarves when they were shot, and one, Hisham Awartani, has been left partially paralyzed. A trial is expected to take place in late 2025, with the next status conference scheduled for March 2025. The increase in threats against various communities since the Israel-Hamas conflict has raised concerns about the case being treated as a hate crime.