An Illinois man has been convicted of murder and hate crime charges stemming from the tragic stabbing of a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy, Wadee Alfayoumi. The grisly attack occurred on October 14, 2023, inside the family’s home in the Chicago suburb of Plainfield, where Wadee was stabbed a shocking 26 times. His mother, Hanan Shaheen, was also brutally attacked, suffering more than a dozen stab wounds.
The perpetrator, 73-year-old Joseph Czuba, was indicted on multiple counts, including attempted murder, aggravated battery, and hate crime charges. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges. Authorities revealed that Czuba allegedly targeted his tenants due to their Muslim faith, motivated by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas that escalated following Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
A Will County jury found Czuba guilty of all charges after deliberating for less than two hours. This swift decision highlights the jury's recognition of the severity of the crime. Following the verdict, Wadee's father, Odai Alfyoumi, expressed his mixed emotions. "I don't know if I should be pleased or upset, if I should be crying or laughing," he stated through a translator during a press briefing with the Chicago office of the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the U.S. "But I'm the father of the child, and I've lost the child," he added.
Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago, commented on the case, describing it as a significant moment that shook not only the Muslim community and the Palestinian community but also resonated throughout Chicago, Illinois, and across the nation. "This is one of the worst hate crimes that have been committed in recent memory targeting an innocent 6-year-old boy," he remarked.
During the weeklong trial, Wadee's mother was the first witness to take the stand. She recounted the horror of the attack, stating that Czuba initially attacked her with a knife, shouting, "You devil Muslim, you must die," while her son looked on in terror. Hanan testified that she managed to call 911 from the bathroom when Czuba momentarily left but was horrified to hear her son screaming for help.
The jury was presented with crucial evidence, including the 911 call made by Hanan, in which she can be heard desperately telling the dispatcher, "He's killing my baby." They also viewed body camera footage from the responding officers and were shown the knife used in the attack, which remained embedded in Wadee's body upon their arrival.
During the investigation, Czuba made alarming statements, suggesting he feared for his life and described the family as "infested rats." His now-ex-wife testified against him, stating that he had become increasingly withdrawn and wanted the family to vacate the rental property shortly after the war began, despite her wish to provide them with adequate notice.
Czuba chose not to testify in his defense, and his attorneys urged jurors to scrutinize the evidence presented, claiming there were inconsistencies in the state's case. However, the overwhelming evidence and testimonies led to a conviction that many view as a necessary step towards justice for Wadee Alfayoumi and his grieving family.
