Nikolas P. Kerest, United States Attorney for the District of Vermont, made the following statement with respect to the shooting incident in Burlington on Saturday, November 25th:
“The Burlington Police Department, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other members of the Chittenden County Gun Violence Task Force are investigating the shooting of three young men of Palestinian descent on Saturday night in Burlington.
“We recognize the suffering and heartbreak that the three men who were wounded, their families, and their communities are experiencing. We offer our deepest condolences to all affected by Saturday’s events. We deplore and condemn this violence and other similar acts. We appreciate that our law enforcement partners are conducting the investigation into the identity of the shooter and the shooter’s motives in a careful and deliberate manner.
“The United States Attorney’s Office and the Civil Rights Division will assess the evidence generated to determine whether a federal crime may have been committed.”