A Palestinian college student who was shot in Vermont over Thanksgiving weekend is paralyzed from the chest down after the attack and may never walk again, his family said.

Three 20-year-old students were walking in Burlington, Vermont, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving when they were approached by a white man. Police allege Jason Eaton, 48, approached the trio as they were speaking in a mix of English and Arabic, didnt say anything, and then pulled out a handgun before opening fire.

Eaton is being held without bail and police are investigating the shooting to determine if it was a hate crime.

Elizabeth Price, the mother of one of the students, Hisham Awartani, told NBC News on Sunday he was shot in the spine and that he may never be able to walk again.

We are thankful that all three will survive this attack, and Hishams friends are expected to make a full recovery, a GoFundMe started by his friends and family reads. For Hisham, however, one of the bullets that struck him is lodged in his spine and has left him paralyzed from the chest down.

He has demonstrated remarkable courage, resilience and fortitude even a sense of humor even as the reality of his paralysis sets in.