Topline: A Vermont jury rejected Jason Eaton’s insanity defense in a shooting that left one Palestinian college student paralyzed and two friends wounded.
Published: September 23, 2026 11:34 am ET
Shawn Fletcher
Committed to the craft of journalism and am driven by my desire to inform and inspire.
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From left: Jason Eaton, Tahseen Ali Ahmad, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Hisham Awartani (via Burlington Police Department / Institute for Middle East Understanding)
BURLINGTON, VT — A jury convicted Jason Eaton of attempted murder on September 21 in the shooting of three Palestinian college students, rejecting an insanity defense in an attack that left one of the men paralyzed.
Eaton, 51, faces up to life in prison for the November 2023 shooting near the University of Vermont campus, according to Associated Press reporting published by 7News Boston. The students were walking near his home when he shot them.
Hisham Awartani was left paralyzed from the waist down. His friends, Tahseen Aliahmad and Kinnan Abdalhamid, were also wounded. All three testified during the weeklong trial, which included testimony from psychiatric experts called by both the prosecution and defense.
Eaton pleaded not guilty but did not contest that he had fired the shots. His attorneys instead sought a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
The defense cited Eaton’s claims that the CIA and Mossad had sent him instructions over FM radio to shoot the men. He also claimed that God had directed him to protect his Jewish neighbors. Those assertions were presented as part of his insanity defense, not as established accounts of instructions from either intelligence agency.
Jurors deliberated for several hours before returning the guilty verdict. Eaton looked straight ahead without an apparent reaction as it was announced. Awartani and Aliahmad, seated in the front row of the courtroom gallery, smiled and embraced people nearby.
Eaton was ordered held in jail while awaiting sentencing. A sentencing date had not been scheduled when the verdict was reported.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Jury Convicts Vermont Man of Attempted Murder in Shooting of Three Palestinian Students
A Vermont jury rejected Jason Eaton’s insanity defense in a shooting that left one Palestinian college student paralyzed and two friends wounded.
By Shawn Fletcher
Published: September 23, 2026 11:34 am ET
From left: Jason Eaton, Tahseen Ali Ahmad, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Hisham Awartani (via Burlington Police Department / Institute for Middle East Understanding)
BURLINGTON, VT — A jury convicted Jason Eaton of attempted murder on September 21 in the shooting of three Palestinian college students, rejecting an insanity defense in an attack that left one of the men paralyzed.
Eaton, 51, faces up to life in prison for the November 2023 shooting near the University of Vermont campus, according to Associated Press reporting published by 7News Boston. The students were walking near his home when he shot them.
Hisham Awartani was left paralyzed from the waist down. His friends, Tahseen Aliahmad and Kinnan Abdalhamid, were also wounded. All three testified during the weeklong trial, which included testimony from psychiatric experts called by both the prosecution and defense.
Eaton pleaded not guilty but did not contest that he had fired the shots. His attorneys instead sought a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
The defense cited Eaton’s claims that the CIA and Mossad had sent him instructions over FM radio to shoot the men. He also claimed that God had directed him to protect his Jewish neighbors. Those assertions were presented as part of his insanity defense, not as established accounts of instructions from either intelligence agency.
Jurors deliberated for several hours before returning the guilty verdict. Eaton looked straight ahead without an apparent reaction as it was announced. Awartani and Aliahmad, seated in the front row of the courtroom gallery, smiled and embraced people nearby.
Eaton was ordered held in jail while awaiting sentencing. A sentencing date had not been scheduled when the verdict was reported.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Jury Convicts Vermont Man of Attempted Murder in Shooting of Three Palestinian Students
A Vermont jury rejected Jason Eaton’s insanity defense in a shooting that left one Palestinian college student paralyzed and two friends wounded.
By Shawn Fletcher
Published: September 23, 2026 11:34 am ET
From left: Jason Eaton, Tahseen Ali Ahmad, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Hisham Awartani (via Burlington Police Department / Institute for Middle East Understanding)
BURLINGTON, VT — A jury convicted Jason Eaton of attempted murder on September 21 in the shooting of three Palestinian college students, rejecting an insanity defense in an attack that left one of the men paralyzed.
Eaton, 51, faces up to life in prison for the November 2023 shooting near the University of Vermont campus, according to Associated Press reporting published by 7News Boston. The students were walking near his home when he shot them.
Hisham Awartani was left paralyzed from the waist down. His friends, Tahseen Aliahmad and Kinnan Abdalhamid, were also wounded. All three testified during the weeklong trial, which included testimony from psychiatric experts called by both the prosecution and defense.
Eaton pleaded not guilty but did not contest that he had fired the shots. His attorneys instead sought a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
The defense cited Eaton’s claims that the CIA and Mossad had sent him instructions over FM radio to shoot the men. He also claimed that God had directed him to protect his Jewish neighbors. Those assertions were presented as part of his insanity defense, not as established accounts of instructions from either intelligence agency.
Jurors deliberated for several hours before returning the guilty verdict. Eaton looked straight ahead without an apparent reaction as it was announced. Awartani and Aliahmad, seated in the front row of the courtroom gallery, smiled and embraced people nearby.
Eaton was ordered held in jail while awaiting sentencing. A sentencing date had not been scheduled when the verdict was reported.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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