The Illinois landlord who stabbed a six-year-old Muslim boy to death in a horrific hate crime had become paranoid about Israel’s conflict with Hamas and thought the boy’s Palestinian parents were going to call their friends to “harm him,” a court ruled today done.
Joseph Czuba, 71, is accused of killing six-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume on Saturday morning in Plainfield, Illinois. Wadea was stabbed 26 times and his mother, Hanaan Shahin, was stabbed more than a dozen times after allegedly shouting, “You Muslims must die!”
The racist attack sickened many, including President Joe Biden. A man claiming to be a member of ISIS shot two people in Brussels on Monday evening ‘Avenge’ Wadea’s death.
Czuba appeared in court today wearing red prison overalls with matted hair.
He was denied bail after being charged with charges including first-degree murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault.
Joseph Czuba, 71, is charged Saturday morning with the murder of six-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume in Plainfield, Illinois
Wadea’s mother, Hanaan Shahin, was stabbed more than ten times. She remains in the hospital. The couple is shown together
Wadea was stabbed 26 times and his mother, Hanaan Shahin, was stabbed more than a dozen times after allegedly shouting, “You Muslims must die!”
When Czuba first appeared in court, mourners gathered to lay Wadea to rest. His father, Oday, was among those present
During the hearing, prosecutors described how Czuba had become paranoid about the “day of jihad” that Hamas leaders called for on Friday, October 13.
When no attacks occurred, his wife says he became even more scared than in the following days.
He withdrew ,000 in cash from the bank, claiming that “the network” was going to go down, and became increasingly anxious as he listened to radio coverage of the war in Israel and Gaza.
His wife told police he thought he was in danger and that Shahin “was going to call Palestinian friends to come and harm them.”
The attack took place shortly before noon on Saturday.
According to the boy’s mother, Czuba – who rented them a room in his house – showed up at the door and first tried to strangle her.
The attack happened Saturday morning at this home in Plainfield, where both lived. Wadea’s family rented a room from Czuba, who also lives in the building
The boy and his mother. He has an older sibling who was not injured in Saturday’s attack
Wadea, pictured on his sixth birthday earlier this month, said: ‘I’m doing well’ before dying, his parents have revealed
Hundreds of mourners gathered Monday at a mosque near the boy’s home to lay him to rest
Wadea’s father was among the mourners. He previously described his son as an ‘angel’
The boy’s father Sunday. His mother remains in hospital
She ran inside and called 911. He followed with a military-grade serrated knife, which he used to stab Wadea 26 times.
The boy’s mother was also stabbed dozens of times. Police arrived and found Czuba sitting upright outside the building.
When he made his first court appearance, mourners gathered to lay Wadea to rest. His father, Oday, was among those present.
“This is a tough day that we hoped would never come. As they say, the smallest coffins are the heaviest,” Ahmed Rehab, executive director of CAIR-Chicago, said in a statement. Chicago Tribune.
Before the funeral, members of the Muslim and Palestinian communities gathered to denounce the attack and criticize the media for fueling anti-Palestinian rhetoric.
“This heinous crime did not occur in a vacuum,” Oussama Jammal, a member of the Mosque Foundation’s board of directors, told the Tribune. “Government officials and our media are acting irresponsibly.”
The child’s school district also said guidance staff would be available at the boy’s school on Monday.
Before the funeral, members of the Muslim and Palestinian communities gathered to denounce the attack and criticize the media for fueling anti-Palestinian rhetoric.
A fundraising page has raised more than $318,000 to help cover funeral costs, housing costs for the mother and a memorial for Wadea
The child’s school district also said guidance staff would be available at the boy’s school on Monday
“This is a tough day that we hoped would never come. As they say, the smallest coffins are the heaviest,” Ahmed Rehab, executive director of CAIR-Chicago, said in a statement
The backyard of the house where Czuba stabbed the boy and his mother. It is full of American flags and other patriotic signs
The cluttered backyard also has umbrellas and Christian signs
a fundraising page has raised more than $318,000 to cover funeral costs, housing costs for the mother and a memorial for Wadea.
“We cannot allow her to return to the home where she experienced such trauma. This money will also be used to support Hanaan in moving to a safe place where she can feel comfortable,” the page said.
Family members say the boy and his mother lived in the house for two years without incident until the landlord’s alleged attack this weekend.
The ‘day of jihad’ sparked security fears across the country and even around the world.
Every major police force in the US beefed up its resources for the day in anticipation of unrest.
In New York, all protests were peaceful, as were the majority in the US.
In France, police clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters, and a teacher was also killed by an attacker who reportedly shouted “allahu akbar.”
