A decade ago, police in upstate New York confiscated a shotgun from Jason Eaton, the man accused of shooting three Palestinian college students in Vermont last weekend. The action was taken at the request of Eaton’s ex-girlfriend, who reported domestic disputes and expressed concerns about his mental health. The 37-year-old woman, who had recently ended her relationship with Eaton, informed Syracuse police about his history of mental illness and domestic violence.
Officer Justin Smith documented the property complaint call on August 1, 2013, stating that the woman had a history of domestic violence with Eaton. However, the records do not provide details about the extent of the allegations. Syracuse police clarified that no criminal charges were filed against Eaton or the woman.
The confiscated weapon, a Deerslayer 20-gauge shotgun, was legally obtained, and it remains unclear if Eaton later reclaimed it from the police. This incident is now under scrutiny as authorities investigate a motive for the Burlington, Vermont shooting, raising concerns about potential hate crime charges amid growing Islamophobia linked to the conflict in Gaza.
Eaton’s past interactions with law enforcement have come to light. Before moving to Burlington, he lived in Syracuse, where he initiated or was named in 37 police reports from April 11, 2007, to Nov. 16, 2021. These reports mostly involved minor incidents, such as reporting a traffic accident or a car break-in.
His past also includes a call to the police two weeks before his ex-girlfriend contacted them, concerning child custody issues with a shared child. Additionally, in 2019, another ex-girlfriend reported Eaton to police in DeWitt, stating he had been sending her explicit messages after she expressed her desire to cut off communication.
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Despite these incidents, Eaton was never arrested in connection with any of them. In Burlington, where he faces three counts of attempted murder, police discovered a Ruger .380 pistol and ammunition in his possession, matching the bullets found at the shooting scene. Eaton, who legally obtained the pistol in April, pleaded not guilty and is held without bail. The investigation continues, with concerns about rising hate crimes and Islamophobia intensifying.