---
title: "Vermont man on trial for shooting Palestinian students"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/vermont-man-on-trial-for-shooting-palestinian-students"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/vermont-man-on-trial-for-shooting-palestinian-students"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/vermont-man-on-trial-for-shooting-palestinian-students.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/vermont-man-on-trial-for-shooting-palestinian-students"
category: "Conflict & Security"
area: "United States"
published: "2026-09-14T22:05:27.137Z"
source_reported: "2026-09-14T21:35:06.005Z"
updated: "2026-09-14T22:05:27.137Z"
trust_score: 76
critic_score: 95
hype_score: 15
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-09-14T23:15:37.269374+00:00"
---

# Vermont man on trial for shooting Palestinian students

*Jason Eaton claims CIA and Mossad ordered him to shoot, while prosecutors argue he acted with intent.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 76 of 100, higher is better. Trust 76: multiple named sources, independent outlets, specific figures, dates, and locations corroborated.
- Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95: explains relevance, quotes victims and lawyers, separates fact from comment, provides specifics and next steps.
- Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15: coverage is factual with minimal sensational language; headline matches article content.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- Jason Eaton, 51, is on trial in Burlington, Vermont, for the attempted second-degree murder of three Palestinian college students.
- Eaton claims he was acting on orders from the CIA and Mossad, receiving messages via FM radio.
- Authorities found shotguns and a Ruger .380 handgun in Eaton's apartment, with crime-lab testing identifying the handgun as the weapon used.
- The three victims, Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Aliahmad, and Kinnan Abdalhamid, were 20 at the time of the November 2023 shooting and are now 23.

Jason Eaton is on trial in Burlington, Vermont, for the attempted second-degree murder of three Palestinian college students. The incident occurred in November 2023. Eaton, now 51, has pleaded not guilty. The three victims, Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Aliahmad, and Kinnan Abdalhamid, were 20 years old at the time of the shooting and are now 23.

Eaton's defense is centered on an insanity plea, with his attorneys arguing he was suffering from a delusional, psychotic disorder. They claim he believed he was receiving orders from the CIA and Mossad via FM radio, and that God commanded him to protect his Jewish neighbors. The defense stated that Eaton believed he was acting on instructions and could not appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct.

Prosecutors, however, are presenting evidence that Eaton intended to kill the men and was not legally insane. Authorities found three shotguns and a Ruger .380 handgun in Eaton's apartment. Crime-lab testing identified the handgun as the weapon used in the shooting. The prosecutor stated that a state psychiatrist concluded Eaton did not have a mental disease or defect that would qualify as legal insanity.

## Disagreement on mental state

Eaton's defense attorneys told jurors that he was suffering from a delusional, psychotic disorder and believed he was receiving messages from the CIA and Mossad via FM radio, which commanded him to shoot. Conversely, a state psychiatrist slated to testify concluded that Eaton did not have a mental disease or defect and that evidence would show he intended to kill the men, according to the prosecutor.

## What the coverage left out

None of the right-rated digests mention the specific details of the victims' injuries or the fact that one victim is now paralyzed from the waist down. The right-rated digests also do not mention the specific types of firearms found in Eaton's apartment or that crime-lab testing identified the handgun as the weapon used.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 28 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 54% (15)
- Centre: 32% (9)
- Right: 14% (4)

2 of 30 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-14T23:15:37.269374+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 7 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-14T23:45:17.404Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Nine left-rated reports led on the trial of Jason Eaton for the attempted murder of three Palestinian college students. These reports highlighted Eaton's claim that he was acting on orders from the CIA and Mossad, transmitted via FM radio, and that God commanded him to protect his Jewish neighbors. The digests noted that the victims were Palestinian students and mentioned their ages at the time of the shooting and their current ages. Some digests specified that Eaton pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and that the trial would hinge on expert testimony regarding his state of mind. One digest mentioned the victims' surprise appearance at the trial.

### Centre

- Seven centre-rated reports focused on the commencement of the trial for Jason Eaton, who is accused of shooting three Palestinian college students. These reports consistently mentioned Eaton's claim that he was acting on orders from the CIA and Mossad, receiving messages via FM radio, and that God was commanding him to protect his Jewish neighbors. The digests also noted that the trial began for the man charged with the shootings in November 2023 and that he is charged with attempted murder. One report mentioned that the insanity defense was outlined.

### Right

- Two right-rated reports covered the trial of Jason Eaton for the shooting of three Palestinian college students. Both digests stated that Eaton insisted he was acting on orders from the CIA and Mossad when he shot the students, and that he said U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies transmitted messages to him via FM radio, with God commanding him to protect his Jewish neighbors. One digest also included unrelated local headlines about a store robbery, a car hitting a business, and the Vermont Almanac not publishing a seventh edition.

**Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- mixed: 3
- high: 23
- unknown: 2
- veryHigh: 2

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [VT Digger](https://vtdigger.org/2026/09/14/directed-by-voices-or-acting-on-his-own-mental-state-of-man-accused-of-shooting-palestinian-students-is-focus-of-trial) — Directed by voices or acting on his own? Mental state of man accused of shooting Palestinian students is focus of trial
- [Hastings Tribune](https://hastingstribune.com/ap/state/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia/article_f6cd6f64-3524-573c-8eb9-550813fc6f4f.html) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/national/11140030/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia-told-him-to-do-it.html) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [Washington Times](https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/14/vermont-man-trial-shooting-3-palestinian-students-claimed-cia-told) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/national/2026/09/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia-told-him-to-do-it) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it – WTOP News
- [WBAL](https://wbal.com/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia-told-him-to-do-it) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He clai
- [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia-told-him-to-do-it/article_96e8813b-b695-5f75-87f7-2ed12b92771e.html) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia-told-him-to-do-it) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/cia-west-bank-god-vermont-fm-radio-b3050145.html) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/jason-eaton-vermont-palestinian-students-shooting-e3a4e8a4d437997ffdf2d0f90d86b473) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/cia-west-bank-god-vermont-fm-radio-b3050145.html) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [The Independent Online](https://dailyindependent.com/national/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia/article_10806c9f-6f13-5a93-88d3-20712c8c45cb.html) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [Mid Florida Newspapers](https://midfloridanewspapers.com/ap/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia/article_8df13a6a-c16d-59c9-bb84-ec31dafafefc.html) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [The News-Gazette](https://news-gazette.com/news/nation-world/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia/article_22aeedd6-7ea3-5d75-ba3f-637d1a57c4c9.html) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [Bozeman Daily Chronicle](https://bozemandailychronicle.com/wire/news/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia/article_8b38c9fd-4299-5f6f-a331-1f473bc28400.html) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [WPLG](https://local10.com/news/national/2026/09/14/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia-told-him-to-do-it) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/news/national/2026/09/14/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia-told-him-to-do-it) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [Bangor Daily News](https://bangordailynews.com/2026/09/14/nation/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia-told-him-to-do-it) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [MY Northwest](https://mynorthwest.com/national/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia-told-him-to-do-it/4275928) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [WBUR](https://wbur.org/news/2026/09/14/vermont-shooting-palestinian-students-trial-jason-easton-insanity-defense) — Trial of man accused of shooting 3 Palestinian college students begins in Vermont
- [Boston Globe](https://bostonglobe.com/2026/09/14/metro/palestinians-shot-vermont-trial) — Palestinian students injured in 2023 Vermont shooting make surprise appearance as trial begins - The Boston Globe
- [The Record](https://therecord.com/news/world/united-states/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia-told-him-to-do-it/article_4665c2b3-7d63-5fb2-981a-30adc352899c.html) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [NiagaraFallsReview.ca](https://niagarafallsreview.ca/news/world/united-states/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia-told-him-to-do-it/article_9f7b33ea-435d-5cfc-a943-9a5cb983b9f2.html) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [wamc.org](https://wamc.org/news/2026-09-14/trial-begins-in-2023-shooting-of-three-palestinian-students-in-burlington-vt) — Trial begins in 2023 shooting of three Palestinian students in Burlington, VT
- [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/09/14/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia-told-him-to-do-it) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [Durango Herald](https://durangoherald.com/articles/associated-press/a-vermont-man-is-on-trial-for-shooting-3-palestinian-students-he-claimed-the-cia-told-him-to-do-i) — A Vermont man is on trial for shooting 3 Palestinian students. He claimed the CIA told him to do it
- [Vermont Daily Chronicle](https://vermontdailychronicle.com/vt-headlines-opening-arguments-begin-today-in-burlington-attempted-murder-trial-for-jason-eaton) — VT Headlines: Opening arguments begin today in Burlington attempted murder trial for Jason Eaton
- [Burlington Free Press](https://burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/crime/2026/09/14/live-jason-eaton-trial-2023-burlington-shooting-palestinian-vt--live/91756358007) — Jason Eaton trial for Palestinian student shootings in Burlington
- [WPTZ](https://mynbc5.com/article/trial-begins-monday-jason-eaton-burlington-paslestinian-students-shot/73717590) — Opening arguments begin Monday in Burlington attempted murder trial
- [WCAX-TV](https://wcax.com/2026/09/14/watch-live-eaton-trial-begins-with-victim-testimony-insanity-defense-outlined) — Eaton trial begins with victim testimony, insanity defense outlined

## Questions

**Who is Jason Eaton and what is he accused of?**

Jason Eaton, 51, is on trial in Burlington, Vermont, for the attempted second-degree murder of three Palestinian college students. He is accused of shooting Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Aliahmad, and Kinnan Abdalhamid in November 2023.

**What is Jason Eaton's defense?**

Eaton's defense is based on an insanity plea. His attorneys argue that he was suffering from a delusional, psychotic disorder and believed he was acting on orders from the CIA and Mossad, transmitted via FM radio, and that God commanded him to act.

**What do prosecutors say about Eaton's mental state?**

Prosecutors contend that Eaton intended to kill the men and was not legally insane. They plan to present evidence from a state psychiatrist who concluded that Eaton did not have a mental disease or defect that would qualify as legal insanity.

**What evidence was found at Eaton's apartment?**

Authorities found three shotguns and a Ruger .380 handgun in Jason Eaton's apartment. Crime-lab testing identified the handgun as the weapon used in the shooting of the three students.

---

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