Burlington, Vermont - A manhunt is underway in Burlington as police search for a white suspect involved in the shooting of three 20-year-old men of Palestinian descent. The incident occurred on Saturday evening, leaving two victims with gunshot wounds to the torso and the third victim with more serious injuries to his lower extremities.

According to the authorities, the victims were visiting a relative's home in Burlington to celebrate Thanksgiving when they were confronted by an armed white man on Prospect Street. Without uttering a word, the suspect allegedly discharged at least four rounds around 6:30 p.m., targeting the three young men.

The victims, two of whom were wearing keffiyehs, symbols of Palestinian solidarity, are identified as Hisham Awartani, a student at Brown University, Kinnan Abdalhamid, a student at Haverford College, and Tahseen Ahmed, a student at Trinity College.

While the motive behind the attack remains unknown, Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad emphasized the importance of avoiding premature conclusions based on incomplete information. He urged the public to refrain from jumping to conclusions and assured them that law enforcement is pursuing every possible angle to identify, locate, and apprehend the suspect.

In a joint statement, the families of the victims expressed their devastation and concern for their children's recovery, urging law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation and treat the shooting as a possible hate crime. They emphasized the need to protect their children and prevent any potential reoccurrence of such a heinous act.

Haverford College's president and dean also issued a statement, highlighting that Kinnan and his friends are Palestinian students studying in the United States. They expressed their solidarity with the victims and their families while awaiting further updates on whether the incident will be investigated as a hate crime.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) also condemned the shooting, stating that there is reason to believe the incident occurred due to anti-Arab sentiment. They called on law enforcement to investigate the incident as a hate crime and pledged their support to the victims' families during this challenging time.

The shooting incident has drawn attention from various political figures, including Senator Bernie Sanders. He took to social media to express his shock and distress, calling for a thorough investigation while sending his thoughts and support to the victims and their families.

This incident follows the tragic stabbing death of a 6-year-old Palestinian boy in the Chicago area, highlighting increasing concerns over anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias incidents reported since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict. As the investigation continues, authorities are working closely with federal partners to determine the motive and bring the suspect to justice.

President Biden has been briefed on the shooting, and the Burlington Police Department remains committed to providing reliable and factual information to the public, ensuring the safety of the victims and conducting a comprehensive investigation to address any potential hate-filled motivations behind this disturbing act of violence.