Was the Vermont shooting of 3 men of Palestinian descent a hate crime? Under state law it might be

The investigation into the shooting of three college students of Palestinian descent in Vermont is currently ongoing, and authorities are considering whether to classify it as a hate crime. Under Vermont state law, a hate crime is defined as a crime motivated “in whole or in part, by the victim’s actual or perceived protected category,” which includes factors such as race, religion, national origin, and more. If the motive behind the shooting is determined to be based on the victims’ identity, it may be appropriate to seek hate crime enhancements, which can result in increased penalties, including longer jail sentences and higher fines.

However, as of now, authorities have not yet gathered enough evidence to definitively label it as a hate crime under Vermont law. Chittenden County State’s attorney Sarah George has stated that they do not currently have the evidence required to support a hate crime enhancement, which must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

It’s important to note that the investigation is ongoing, and further developments may impact the classification of this incident. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice is also looking into the case and considering potential federal civil rights charges, but the details of any potential sentences for federal charges have not been disclosed at this time.

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