Palestinian student shot with friends may never walk after bullet hit spine

28 November 2023 , 17:51

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Hisham Awartani, is starting to come to terms with the “very long road he has in front of him” after a bullet hit his spine (Image: ABC)

A Palestinian student shot along with his two friends as they spoke Arabic while walking to a family dinner may never walk again after the bullet hit his spine.

Jason J. Eaton, is accused of shooting and injuring Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ahmed in Burlington, Vermont, on Saturday night at around 6:30pm. Two injured men were discovered at the scene, with a third found a short distance away.

Now, the mother of Hisham Awartani, Elizabeth Price, has spoken about his "very long road" to recovery after suffering an "incomplete spinal injury" which means he can feel his legs, but can't move them. The injury also means he may never walk again, or have to learn how to walk properly again.

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Elizabeth, currently in Amman, Jordan, is now working with the U.S Government to travel and be with her son, who attends Brown University. She also explained to CNN how Awartani’s clavicle was broken and his thumb fractured. Awartani, aged 20, is now expected to have between one and four weeks in spinal trauma care, followed by months in physical therapy.

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Elizabeth previously said she believes her son has the determination to regain movement in his legs, though the doctors told her it was currently not possible (ABC)

Jason J. Eaton, is accused of shooting and injuring Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ahmed in Burlington, Vermont (Burlington Police)

Elizabeth previously said she believes her son has the determination to regain movement in his legs, though the doctors told her it was currently not possible. She added: "He’s just a very resilient young man and he’s been trying to keep everyone’s spirits up by joking and just trying to be as calm as possible. We are determined to work with him and support him and get the best possible care."

Eaton, 48, was arrested in connection with a shooting and is expected to be charged today after being brought to court. An investigation has been launched by the FBI after suggestions of a hate motive emerged for the attacks on three victims. They are all being treated for their injuries in hospital and expected to survive the trauma of their attack.

Police say they were speaking Arabic and two of them were wearing a keffiyeh, a traditional Arabic scarf, when they were attacked. Their injuries left two of the victims with injuries to their torso and police said one was injured in the “lower extremities”.

Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ahmed were shot while walking to a family dinner (Family Handout)

Eaton pleaded not guilty when he was charged on Monday morning was held without bail until his appearance in court which has still to be scheduled. Mary Reed, Eaton's mum, told The Daily Beast her son had struggled with mental health and job security but was "in such a good mood" at Thanksgiving on Thursday when they last met.

"Jason has had a lot of struggles in his life," she said. "I am just shocked by the whole thing." The public were urged to avoid to avoid jumping to conclusions "based on statements from uninvolved parties who know even less" than the police who are investigating.

Abigail O'Leary