A 48-year-old man accused of shooting three men of Palestinian descent in Burlington Saturday night pleaded not guilty to three charges of attempted second degree murder.
Jason Eaton, of Burlington, was arraigned in Chittenden County Superior Court Monday morning. He’ll be held in prison without bail, and a hearing will be scheduled in coming days to decide whether he should continue to be held without bail.
As of Sunday afternoon, two of the victims were in stable condition, and the third had more serious injuries.
According to the police affidavit, when authorities met Eaton at the apartment Sunday, he “made a statement to the effect of, ‘I’ve been waiting for you.’”
Just Shocked’: Mother of Vermont Suspect in Palestinian Student Shooting Speaks Out
“Jason has had a lot of struggles in his life but he is such a kind and loving person,” Mary Reed, his mother, said on Monday. “I am just shocked by the whole thing.” According to NBC, Eaton appears to have a YouTube account that has playlists with videos that include “Expose Fauci,” long COVID, economics, and how to use brain crystals for “psychic powers.” An Instagram account that appears to belong to him also shows him on a farm and cooking. At the end of the family celebration, Reed said, she gave her son a Christmas tree to start decorating for the holiday. She said she had not spoken to her son since Thursday and assumed that he was at home over the weekend “decorating his tree.”
