Palestinian-American student, Hisham Awartani, one of the students involved in the recent shooting incident in Burlington, Vermont, is now paralyzed from the chest down, according to his mother, Elizabeth Price. Providing an update on Thursday, Price informed media that her son had sustained an incomplete spinal injury, preventing movement in the affected areas while retaining the ability to feel. She expressed hope for improvement through intensive rehabilitation scheduled for later in the week.
A GoFundMe campaign initiated over the weekend aims to raise funds for Awartani’s medical expenses. The campaign discloses that a bullet lodged in his spine during the incident has resulted in his current state of paralysis. Despite the grim prognosis, the family remains committed to his recovery, as conveyed in an authentic statement on the fundraiser page.
Described by family and friends as a kind and brilliant individual with significant potential, Awartani, a Palestinian-Irish American, is fluent in seven languages and serves as a teaching assistant at Brown University, where he pursues studies in math and archaeology. Despite the life-altering incident, he is determined to resume his studies promptly.
The shooting occurred on November 25 when Awartani, along with Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, all 20 years old, was attacked without provocation while conversing in Arabic near his grandmother’s home. The assailant targeted them, with Awartani sustaining a spinal injury, Ali Ahmad shot in the chest, and Abdalhamid in the glute. Jason Eaton, 48, was subsequently arrested and has pleaded not guilty to three counts of second-degree attempted murder.
You can also read: Streaker Arrested at Disneyland’s ‘It’s a Small World’
While the police investigation is ongoing, families of the victims and advocacy organizations are urging law enforcement to treat the incident as a hate crime. In a joint statement, they express their belief that a thorough investigation will reveal that their sons were targeted solely for being Palestinian. They emphasize the importance of achieving full justice and accountability to prevent such brutal attacks in the future. The motive behind the shooting has not been disclosed by the police at this stage.