Three college students of Palestinian descent were injured in a shooting incident in Burlington, Vermont on Saturday night. The unidentified gunman opened fire on the students without speaking, according to police reports. The incident took place outside the home of one of the victim's relatives, where they were visiting for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The victims, identified as Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ahmed, all in their 20s, were shot in the front yard of the house after returning from bowling. Two of the victims were wearing keffiyehs, traditional Palestinian headscarves, at the time of the attack. The identities of the victims were initially withheld at their request but later released by their families in a joint statement.

The shooter is described as a white male with a beard, who remains at large. The Burlington Police Department is treating the incident as a potential hate crime, given the current charged atmosphere. Police Chief Jon Murad has reached out to federal partners to prepare for a potential investigation if the crime is determined to be hate-motivated.

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting and will continue to receive updates as law enforcement gathers more information. The FBI is monitoring the situation and is prepared to investigate if any potential federal violation comes to light during the local investigation.

The shooting occurred near the University of Vermont campus, though none of the victims were students at the institution. The families of the victims have called for a thorough investigation and for the incident to be treated as a hate crime. They expressed concern for the safety and well-being of their children and emphasized the need for justice.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has offered a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator. They have also called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible biased motive in the shooting.

Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger condemned the violence and acknowledged the chilling possibility of a hate-motivated crime. He urged the community to come together, support the victims and their families, and reject any form of discrimination or alienation.

All three students remain hospitalized, with two in stable condition and one sustaining more serious injuries. The Burlington Police Department is working diligently to identify, locate, and apprehend the suspect. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.

The shooting highlights the ongoing concern regarding hate crimes against Muslims, Arabs, and Jews in the United States. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security had issued a warning last month about the heightened threat environment due to the intensification of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

As the investigation continues, the community stands in solidarity with the victims and their families, hoping for their full recovery and for justice to be served.