Joseph Czuba, 71, faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, hate crimes, and aggravated battery after allegedly stabbing two individuals because they were Muslim. The victims, a six-year-old boy and a 32-year-old woman, were attacked in Plainfield, Illinois.
The Will County Sheriff’s Office reported that the attack was motivated by the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. The victims, who were Palestinian-Americans, were targeted based on their religious identity.
President Biden expressed his deep concern about the attack, stating that he was “sickened” by the violence against the mother and her son. He emphasized that such acts of hate have no place in America and go against the nation’s core values of freedom and tolerance. Mr. Biden called for unity and the rejection of Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry and hatred.
The incident unfolded when the woman made an emergency call to the Will County Sheriff’s Office, reporting that she was being attacked by her landlord on Saturday morning. She managed to escape to the bathroom and continued to fend off her attacker.
Law enforcement officers arrived at the scene and discovered both victims with multiple stab wounds to their chest, torso, and upper extremities. Tragically, the six-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries and passed away. It was later determined that the child had been stabbed 26 times.
The weapon used in the attack was described as a 12-inch serrated military-style knife with a seven-inch blade.
While the woman was seriously injured, she is expected to survive the assault. Joseph Czuba was apprehended at the scene and subsequently received medical treatment before being questioned by detectives.
According to the Will County Sheriff’s Office, their investigation revealed that the suspect deliberately targeted both victims because they were Muslim and due to the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis. The office has not released the names of the victims, but the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) identified the boy as Wadea al-Fayoume and his mother as Hanaan Shahin.
CAIR-Chicago’s executive director, Ahmed Rehab, spoke about the tragic loss of Wadea, a young boy who had celebrated his recent birthday with joy and enthusiasm. He emphasized the harmful impact of hate and dehumanization in society, pointing out that innocent members of specific communities often suffer when blame is placed on an entire group.
