In a case that shocked the nation and highlighted growing concerns about religious-based violence, a 73-year-old Illinois landlord has been found guilty of murder and hate crimes in the fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy. The brutal attack, which occurred just days after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, has become a stark symbol of rising tensions affecting Muslim communities across America.
Details of the verdict and charges
Joseph Czuba was convicted after less than 90 minutes of jury deliberation for the October 14, 2023 attack in Plainfield, Illinois. The incident resulted in the death of Wadee Alfayoumi and serious injuries to his mother, Hanan Shaheen. Czuba faced multiple charges in an eight-count indictment, including murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, and hate crimes.
The attack and evidence
According to court testimony, the violence erupted after Czuba told his tenants they had to leave because “Muslims were not welcome.” The attack was particularly brutal, with evidence showing the child had been stabbed 26 times and was found with a knife still in his body. Prosecutors presented graphic photos, police footage, and a knife holder as key evidence.
“If it wasn’t enough that this defendant killed that little boy, he left the knife in the little boy’s body,” prosecutor Michael Fitzgerald told jurors during opening statements.
Victim testimony and motivation
Hanan Shaheen’s testimony proved crucial to the case. Speaking in both English and Arabic through a translator, she recounted how Czuba attacked her, stating, “He told me ‘You, as a Muslim, must die.'” The mother and son had lived in Czuba’s house for two years without incident before the attack, which occurred shortly after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.
Shaheen suffered more than a dozen stab wounds in the attack. When police arrived at the scene, they found Czuba sitting outside the house with blood on his body and hands.
Broader implications
The case has drawn national attention and prompted a federal hate crimes investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. It represents one of several incidents reflecting increased hostility against Muslims and Palestinians in the United States following the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
Civil lawsuits have been filed in connection with the boy’s death, including one by the victim’s father, Odai Alfayoumi, who was divorced from Shaheen and lived separately at the time of the attack.
