A landlord in South Carolina, accused of stabbing his tenant and killing her 6-year-old son, told police he feared for his life and believed they were dangerous. Joseph Czuba, 73, made these statements while being transported to the police station in a sheriff’s vehicle.
During the ride, Czuba claimed his tenant, Hanan Shaheen, was a “trained fighter” and compared her and her son to “infested rats.” He also said he was afraid they were going to harm him and his wife, referring to “jihad.”
Czuba is currently on trial for the attack on Shaheen and the murder of her son, Wadee Al Fayoumi, which happened in October 2023 in Plainfield, Illinois. Prosecutors believe Czuba was influenced by anti-Muslim rhetoric and became radicalized by conservative media reports about the war in Gaza.
In a video played in court, Czuba spoke without being questioned, expressing frustration over protests supporting Palestine. He compared them to Nazis and insisted he had been afraid for his safety. He also claimed he had been kind to Wadee, buying him toys, and had helped Shaheen. However, he said he didn’t know she was Muslim and had begged her to leave their home for three days before the attack.
On the day of the attack, forensic evidence confirmed that blood from Wadee, Shaheen, and Czuba was found on a knife discovered at the crime scene. Wadee had been stabbed 26 times. His mother, Shaheen, testified in court that Czuba had shouted, “You Muslim must die,” before attacking her. After he left, she managed to call 911 from the bathroom but soon heard her son screaming as Czuba returned and attacked him.
When police arrived, they found Czuba covered in blood, with several knives lying nearby. A knife holster was attached to his waistband, and the murder weapon was later identified as a ScubaPro dive knife.
Czuba has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, and hate crimes. After prosecutors rested their case, Czuba declined to testify. His defense lawyers only called two law enforcement officers to question Shaheen’s earlier testimony.
Closing arguments are expected on Friday, and the jury will soon decide Czuba’s fate. The case has drawn national attention as an alleged hate crime against a Muslim family.
