tyb
Defendant in shooting of 3 Palestinian students in Vermont said guided by FM radio messages from CIA
The shooting occurred in November 2023, about a month after the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
By Joseph Weber
Published: September 17, 2026 2:13pm
Updated: September 17, 2026 4:38pm
The trial for the Vermont man charged with attempted murder in the November 2023 shooting of three Palestinian college students in Burlington entered its fourth day Thursday, with testimony now focusing on whether the 51-year-old defendant is criminally insane.
In court proceedings Wednesday, in Burlington, jurors heard a tape recording of defendant Jason Eaton telling his attorneys after the shooting – weeks after the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza – that he was acting under the direction of voices he was hearing through his FM radio from the CIA and others.
Eaton says at one point in the recording that a voice told him, "Go stop them now,” as the victims walk down the street and near the front porch of his home.
Authorities in the early stages of investigating the shooting, near the University of Vermont campus, considered the possibility of charging Eaton with a hate crime but didn't have enough related evidence.
So far in the trial, which began Monday, Chittenden County prosecutors have relied largely on forensic gun evidence and testimony from over a dozen witnesses including police and the three victims.
Eaton now faces three charges of attempted murder. He could face a life sentence if convicted of the charges.
Dr. Fabian Saleh, a forensic psychiatrist with The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland, testified Wednesday for the defense that he relied heavily on the recording as well as medical and court records and his interviews with Eaton in reaching his conclusion that the defendant was legally insane at the time of the shooting, according to local news outlet The Vermont Digger.
And in opening statements, defense lawyer Joshua O’Hara, previewing testimony from a defense psychiatrist, told jurors his client was suffering from a delusional, psychotic disorder after losing his job at a credit union two weeks before the shooting.
The trial is expected to continue through the week. An expert for the state is expected to testify that Eaton was not insane at the time of the shootings.
In the first two days of the trial, Chittenden County prosecutors in presenting their case relied largely on forensic gun evidence and testimony from over a dozen witnesses, including police and the three victims.
According to trial testimony, Eaton stepped off a porch and without speaking shot Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ali Ahmad while they were on a walk. They survived but Awartani was left paralyzed from the waist down.
Two of the men wore traditional Palestinian scarves and reportedly spoke a mixture of Arabic and English prior to the shooting.
https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/vermont-trial
Donald J. Trump / @realDonaldTrump 09/17/2026 20:13:38
Truth Social: 117289151255093709
Congressman Rob Wittman is doing a truly fantastic job representing the wonderful people of Virginia’s 1st Congressional District! As the Vice Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rob is working tirelessly to advance our America First Agenda. He understands the Wisdom and Courage required to Defend our Country, Support our Brave Military/Veterans, and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH. In Congress, Rob is fighting tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Advance American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment. Rob Wittman has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117289151255093709
Donald J. Trump / @realDonaldTrump 09/17/2026 20:19:12
Truth Social: 117289173153775817
Congresswoman Jen Kiggans is a Tremendous Advocate for the Great People of Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District!
A former Navy helicopter pilot, Jen knows how to Defend our Country, Support our Brave Military/Veterans, and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH. In Congress, Jen is working hard to Secure the Border, Grow the Economy, Restore American Energy Independence, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment.
Jen Kiggans has my Complete and Total Endorsement — SHE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117289173153775817
Donald J. Trump / @realDonaldTrump 09/17/2026 20:20:02
Truth Social: 117289176463500141
Congressman John McGuire is an America First Warrior for Virginia’s 5th Congressional District.
John bravely served our Great Country as a U.S. Navy SEAL, and is doing an incredible job fighting for the people of Rural Virginia. He is working hard to Grow our Economy, Create GREAT Jobs, Champion American Energy DOMINANCE, Secure our Border, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, Defend our always under siege Second Amendment, and Restore PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.
John is MAGA all the way, and has been with us from the very beginning. John McGuire has my Complete and Total Endorsement — He will never let you down!
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117289176463500141
If they would have passed the SAVE America Act and not acted like the enemy of the constitution, maybe the briefing would have gone better? Anon is just spitballin' in wonder.
Bipartisan frustration over closed-door Pentagon briefing on Trump defense strategy and Iran war
Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon policy chief, was criticized for his lack of an opening statement and for answers that were considered not very informative.
By Just the News staff
Published: September 17, 2026 8:35pm
On a day that President Trump discussed the “big decision” he faces regarding the war with Iran, the number three person at the Pentagon got a rough review from both sides of the aisle for his briefing to the Senate Armed Services Committee on the war and the Trump administration’s National Defense Strategy.
Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon policy chief, was criticized for his lack of an opening statement and for answers that were considered not very informative.
Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said “There were a lot more questions than answers,” and called it “very peculiar” and “weird” that Colby did not have a statement prepared for this congressionally mandated hearing. He called the exchange “very disrespectful to say the least” and a “dodge and punt” on Colby’s part, according to The Hill.
“You don’t have to go far in Congress to have a sort of confrontational view of Elbridge Colby, but boy, he just blew her up right from the beginning,” Cramer added.
Another Republican on the committee, Sen. Joni Ernst, Iowa, said she was “very disappointed” by the briefing. “I did not stay to ask questions because he was not giving any clear responses,” said Ernst.
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said Iran turned out to be the main topic of the briefing, though it had been scheduled to discuss the National Defense Strategy.
But, “like a lot of the briefs we get from this administration, we walk out with more questions than we had when we went in,” Kelly told reporters.
https://justthenews.com/government/congress/bipartisan-frustration-over-closed-door-pentagon-briefing-trump-defense