A man from Illinois has been found guilty of murder and hate crime charges for the tragic killing of a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy in 2023.
The victim, Wadee Alfayoumi, was stabbed 26 times, while his mother was attacked more than a dozen times in their home in Plainfield, a suburb of Chicago. The attacker, 73-year-old Joseph Czuba, was their landlord. He was charged with multiple counts of murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, and hate crimes. Czuba pleaded not guilty, but a jury in Will County convicted him on all charges.
Authorities said Czuba attacked his tenants because they were Muslim. The attack happened on October 14, 2023, just days after the war between Israel and Hamas began. Prosecutors said Czuba’s actions were fueled by hate and fear.
The jury deliberated for less than two hours before delivering the guilty verdict. After the decision, Wadee’s father, Odai Alfayoumi, spoke through a translator. He expressed mixed emotions, saying, “I don’t know if I should be happy or sad. People tell me to smile, but I lost my child.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Chicago called the verdict a “clear-cut case.” Executive Director Ahmed Rehab said, “This crime shook the Muslim and Palestinian communities, as well as Chicago, Illinois, and even the world. It was one of the worst hate crimes in recent memory, targeting an innocent 6-year-old child.”
Wadee’s mother, Hanan Shaheen, was the first witness in the trial. She described the horrifying attack in court. She said Czuba stabbed her while saying, “You devil Muslim, you must die.” She managed to call 911 from the bathroom, but soon after, she heard her son screaming, “Oh no, stop!”
Jurors listened to her 911 call, where she cried, “He’s killing my baby.” The court also watched police body camera footage showing the crime scene. The knife was still in the boy’s body when officers arrived. Prosecutors also played recordings of Czuba’s statements to police after the attack. He claimed he thought the family would harm him and called them “infested rats.”
Czuba and his wife had rented part of their home to the victims for two years. His now ex-wife testified that after the war started, he became paranoid and wanted the family out immediately. However, she wanted to give them proper notice.
Czuba did not testify in his own defense. Now, he faces sentencing for his crimes. Wadee’s family and supporters hope this case will bring attention to the dangers of hate-driven violence.
