In a shocking incident of violence, Hisham Awartani, a 20-year-old Palestinian-Irish-American college student, was shot last month in Burlington, Vermont, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. Awartani had been taking a walk with his childhood friends, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, both of Palestinian descent, when a man approached them and opened fire without provocation.

The attack took place on November 25, where Awartani, Abdalhamid, and Ali Ahmad narrowly escaped with their lives. However, Awartani now faces the possibility of permanent paralysis in his legs due to a bullet lodged in his spine. In response to this tragic situation, Awartani's family has set up a verified GoFundMe page to raise funds for his medical costs.

Despite the devastating prognosis, Awartani has displayed remarkable courage, resilience, and fortitude. His family described his remarkable spirit, even finding humor in the face of his paralysis. While the situation remains challenging, the family is dedicated to Awartani's recovery and maintains hope for his future.

According to Awartani's uncle Rich Price, he is set to be released from the hospital next week, where he will begin the critical process of rehabilitation. Meanwhile, the perpetrator responsible for the attack, Jason J. Eaton, 48, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder and is scheduled to appear in court on December 18.

Authorities are investigating whether the shooting qualifies as a hate crime. Both the FBI and local Vermont authorities are working to determine the motive behind this senseless act of violence against Awartani and his friends.

The incident occurred while Awartani was visiting his grandmother in Vermont during his Thanksgiving break from Brown University. Given concerns for his safety in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Awartani's parents believed it would be safer for him to stay in the U.S. His mother, Elizabeth Price, expressed her husband's worries about their son's safety but believed that he would be secure in Burlington.

Recounting the events, the Burlington Police Department revealed that Awartani, Abdalhamid, and Ali Ahmad were walking down a residential street, conversing in a mix of Arabic and English, while two of them wore traditional Palestinian scarves called keffiyehs. The shooter, identified as Eaton, did not utter any words before opening fire. Awartani was struck in the spine, Abdalhamid in the glute, and Ali Ahmad suffered an upper chest wound.

The victims, who have been friends since elementary school, are now scattered across various colleges. Abdalhamid is attending Haverford College in Pennsylvania, while Ali Ahmad is a student at Trinity College in Connecticut.

This shocking incident has brought attention to the vulnerability of Palestinian-American students and the need for a thorough investigation into potential hate crimes. As Awartani begins his rehabilitation journey, the community hopes for justice, support, and healing for all those affected by this horrific act of violence.