Jason Eaton Trial Opens in Burlington | Montpelier News

A tense trial opens in Burlington as Jason Eaton, 51, stands accused of shooting three Palestinian-American college students in November 2023 — an attack that left one paralyzed. Facing three counts of attempted second-degree murder, Eaton has pleaded not guilty and is preparing to argue he was insane at the time. Police say he fired four shots without warning while the victims walked down a street speaking Arabic and English. All survived, but one now lives with permanent paralysis. Evidence includes a matching pistol found in his apartment, where he allegedly admitted to waiting for police. The defense’s insanity plea — requiring only a “preponderance of evidence” under Vermont law — faces steep odds, but both sides have locked in mental health experts. After years of legal delays, including multiple competency hearings and a controversial claim Eaton acted on intelligence agency orders, the judge finally declared him competent — just in time for this high-stakes showdown. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: [email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Sources: https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2026-09-14/trial-man-accused-shooting-palestinian-college-students-begins-burlington More coverage & latest updates: https://sources.thednn.ai/dcd292c70b78cf30 Report issues to [email protected].