More information has emerged about the individual accused of shooting three Palestinian-American students in Burlington, Vermont.

Some have speculated that the shooting, which occurred on Saturday evening, was a hate crime, which has raised concerns as the war between Israel and Hamas continues to have a global impact.

The incident happened when 48-year-old Jason Eaton allegedly accosted the three men, shooting four times before fleeing. Two of the students were struck in the torso, and the other was hit below the waist.

The 20-year-old men are all receiving medical care, according to a Sunday news release from the Burlington Police Department. “Two are stable, while one has sustained much more serious injuries.”

The students were walking on Prospect Street while visiting a relative in Burlington for the Thanksgiving holiday when “they were confronted by a white man with a handgun,” says the release.

“Without speaking, he discharged at least four rounds from the pistol and is believed to have fled on foot,” police said.

Police said that two of the victims are US citizens and one is a legal resident.

Two of the three students were wearing keffiyehs, traditional Palestinian scarves, according to the police department. Two were shot in the torso and one in the “lower extremities.”

Eaton was later apprehended in his home. The authorities noted that he said he had been “waiting” for them when they arrived.

Self-Described ‘Radical Citizen’

Eaton reportedly described himself as a “radical citizen” on social media. He claimed to be "pa-trolling demockracy and crapitalism for oathcreepers.” He also discussed being in a “parallel universe” and routinely engaged in conversations about the war between Israel and Hamas. The suspect scrubbed much of his social media, so there hasn’t been much information available about his beliefs on the conflict yet.

Mental Health Struggles

Eaton’s mother, Mary Reed, indicated that he suffered from depression and other mental health problems in the past. However, she said that during their Thanksgiving gathering, he seemed happy. She expressed shock at hearing about his actions, noting that she had seen no previous indications of his being capable of such violence and described him as a “spiritual” person.

Eaton’s Career

Eaton appears to have an extensive education, having obtained multiple degrees and certifications. He was also a teacher of fifth and sixth graders and worked with kids in other venues as well.

According to the resume, Eaton was a field instructor for the McCall Outdoor Science School in Idaho, where he taught science to 5th and 6th graders for two months in 2005. A year later, he apparently became an investment adviser representative, where he managed about 100 clients and $7 million in assets.

He was also a senior head instructor at Obsidian Trails Outdoor School in Oregon, the resume states. Between 2004 and 2005, he claimed o have worked at Adirondack Leadership Expeditions. Later, he guided wilderness trips for at-risk youth at the School of Urban & Wilderness Survival of the Carolinas in North Carolina, according to the document. VICE reported that Eaton was also formerly an assistant scoutmaster for a Boy Scouts of America unit in New York.

Political Beliefs

The extent of Eaton’s political beliefs is not completely clear, but his social media postings indicate he gravitated towards libertarianism. However, he also expressed support for both Republican and Democratic politicians and candidates.

In a now-locked account on X, he describes himself as a “radical citizen” who patrols “demockracy and crapitalism for oathcreepers.” His banner image features big bold text, saying “Libertarians want trans furrys (sic) to be able to protect their cannabis farms with unregistered machine guns.”

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In the archived version, he describes himself as a “dad” and “part-time farmer” and identifies himself as being from Vermont. His archived posts are mainly filled with criticisms of the IRS and the Fed. He describes himself as a Libertarian, and expresses support for both Democrat and Republican lawmakers or candidates.

Eaton also wrote posts on social media opposing the COVID-19 vaccination. He wrote a post titled “Thought Crime,” in which he characterizes the pandemic as a government conspiracy, referring to the “scale and scope” of the response to the coronavirus as “next level.”

He expressed these views on LinkedIn but indicated that he was deleting some posts because his views “make some people not want to hire me.”

Eaton is currently being held without bail. The authorities are investigating the possibility that the shooting was a hate crime. After his Monday hearing, his attorney indicated that it was “premature to speculate” about the motivation behind the shooting. He has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and has pleaded not guilty.