Josh Fiallo
Mon, October 16, 2023
Prosecutors on Monday alleged that Joseph Czuba, the 71-year-old white man accused of fatally stabbing a Palestinian mother and boy in a Chicago suburb over the weekend, had become paranoid listening to conservative radio segments about the war between Israel and Hamas.
Czuba was arraigned on Monday, making his first court appearance in an orange jumpsuit with matted hair, The New York Times reported. He faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of a hate crime, and an aggravated battery charge for allegedly stabbing his tenants, 6-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume and his mom, Hanaan Shaheen, inside their home.
In court documents obtained by the Times, prosecutors allege that Czuba had become fearful that their Palestinian background made him a potential target for violence.
Impaled Palestinian Mom Posted About Dead Son Just After Chicago Attack
Czuba’s wife told investigators that her husband “listens to conservative talk radio on a regular basis” and had become obsessed with the Middle East war, NBC reported.
Prosecutors reportedly said Monday that Czuba had texted Shaheen on Wednesday and demanded that she “move out of the home” she was renting from him.
Czuba’s alleged hate took a violent turn on Saturday. Prosecutors say he confronted the mother and son outside their home and said he was enraged by the situation in Israel. Shaheen tried to plead with Czuba, prosecutors said, but it was to no avail: Just seconds after she said “let’s pray for peace,” prosecutors claim she was chased into her home and stabbed repeatedly.
A judge denied a request for bail by Czuba on Monday, saying he remains a threat to Shaheen—who is still recovering from stab wounds in the hospital—and “the community in general.” His next court date is on Oct. 30.
Czuba’s arraignment took place the same day mourners gathered at a funeral for Al-Fayoume. The boy’s body was placed in a small white coffin that was draped in a Palestinian flag.
Nazmi Hannon, a close family friend who described the father as a “brother” to him, spoke to The Daily Beast from the site of a funeral service on Monday.
“I just remember all the little things. How he smiled, how he played, how he ran around,” he said. “He was running around playing just last week, and now he’s in a casket.”
Landlord charged with killing boy claims he felt in danger after listening to right-wing radio on Israel-Hamas
Graeme Massie
Mon, October 16, 2023
A landlord charged with fatally stabbing a six-year-old Palestinian American boy and wounding his mother had been listening to right-wing talk radio coverage of the Israel-Hamas war before the shocking attack, say prosecutors.
Joseph Czuba, 71, appeared in Will County court outside of Chicago on Monday, accused of murdering Wadea Al-Fayoume after attacking the youngster and his mother, Hanan Shaheen.
Prosecutors told the court that the suspect had become increasingly concerned for his safety as he listened to conservative radio coverage of the Middle East conflict before his violent attack on Saturday, reported The Chicago Sun-Times.
His wife told investigators that he “believed he was in danger and she [Shaheen] was going to call Palestinian friends to come and harm them,” said Michael Fitzgerald, a Will County assistant state’s attorney.
Mr Czuba’s wife said her husband had also taken out $1,000 from the bank because he believed “the grid” was set to go down.
Wadea was stabbed 26 times and his 32-year-old mother more than 12 times in the shocking attack at a property in Plainfield Township, outside of Chicago.
Mr Czuba has been charged with one count each of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and aggravated battery, and two counts of hate crime.
Graeme Massie
Mon, October 16, 2023
A landlord charged with fatally stabbing a six-year-old Palestinian American boy and wounding his mother had been listening to right-wing talk radio coverage of the Israel-Hamas war before the shocking attack, say prosecutors.
Joseph Czuba, 71, appeared in Will County court outside of Chicago on Monday, accused of murdering Wadea Al-Fayoume after attacking the youngster and his mother, Hanan Shaheen.
Prosecutors told the court that the suspect had become increasingly concerned for his safety as he listened to conservative radio coverage of the Middle East conflict before his violent attack on Saturday, reported The Chicago Sun-Times.
His wife told investigators that he “believed he was in danger and she [Shaheen] was going to call Palestinian friends to come and harm them,” said Michael Fitzgerald, a Will County assistant state’s attorney.
Mr Czuba’s wife said her husband had also taken out $1,000 from the bank because he believed “the grid” was set to go down.
Wadea was stabbed 26 times and his 32-year-old mother more than 12 times in the shocking attack at a property in Plainfield Township, outside of Chicago.
Mr Czuba has been charged with one count each of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and aggravated battery, and two counts of hate crime.
Wadea Al-Fayoume, 6, a Muslim boy who according to police was stabbed to death in an attack that targeted him and his mother for their religion and as a response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, poses in an undated family photograph obtained by Reuters on October 15, 2023. (via REUTERS)
The court heard that Ms Shaheen was having breakfast with her American-born son on Saturday morning when the suspect knocked on their door.
She told police that he then began to argue with her about the situation in the Middle East, and she told him “Let’s give peace a chance.”
Mr Fitzgerald said that is when the suspect launched his brutal attack.
Ms Shaheen told investigators that “Czuba is an angry man, but on the day in question, he came to the house and said he was angry at her for what was happening at Jerusalem,” Mr Fitzgerald added.
The home where a boy was killed and a woman critically injured after they were stabbed by a man who targeted them because they were Muslim is shown in Plainfield, Ill., Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Anthony Vazquez)
Ms Shaheen, who remains in hospital in a serious condition, managed to get into a bathroom to call 911, during which time the suspect allegedly killed her son.
The youngster was found dead in a bedroom with multiple stab wounds and a knife plunged four inches into his abdomen.
The suspect was found in the back garden of the house with a cut to his face and wearing a knife holster on his belt.
Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations says that Ms Shaheen has lived in the US for 12 years and that her son celebrated his sixth birthday earlier this month.
Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations says that Ms Shaheen has lived in the US for 12 years and that her son celebrated his sixth birthday earlier this month.
Viral Misinformation Incited the Murder of 6-Year-Old Palestinian Boy, Officials Say
Thomas Germain
Tue, October 17, 2023
A man accused of murdering a 6-year-old Palestinian boy and grievously wounding his mother in Illinois on Saturday was motivated by misinformation surrounding the Israel-Hamas war, officials say.
Joseph Czuba, a landlord in Plainfield Township, IL, allegedly drove himself into a violent frenzy about his Muslim tenants after listening to conservative talk radio, according to state prosecutors. Czuba was worried about rumors about an imagined Hamas plot that first spread on social media, Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Fitzgerald said at a Monday court hearing, according to ABC News.
The incident sparked national attention, including responses from federal officials. President Biden said he was “sickened” to learn about the murder in a statement Sunday. “The child’s Palestinian Muslim family came to America seeking what we all seek — a refuge to live, learn, and pray in peace,” Biden said. The Justice Department is investigating the incident as a hate crime.
Over the last week, misinformation about the supposed “global day of jihad” swirled on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Telegram channels and other platforms. WIRED reports the rumor stemmed from comments by Khaled Meshaal, the founder and former leader of Hamas. Meshaal sent Reuters a recorded statement Wednesday, calling for protests across the Arab world on October 13 in support of the Palestinians, adding “To all scholars who teach jihad ... to all who teach and learn, this is a moment for the application [of theories].”
Meshaal specifically called for protests in “the Arab and Islamic worlds,” but almost immediately, a mistranslation suggesting Meshaal had ordered a “day of rage” and a “global” or “international day of Jihad” spread across the internet.
The conversation soon turned to far-right calls for violence against Muslims. The global day of jihad rumor was parroted by influential conservatives and extremists, including Representative Marjorie Taylor-Greene and Rogan O’Handley, a lawyer turned far-right influencer who goes by DC Draino on X. Charlie Kirk echoed the misinformation on Instagram, where he posted “Day of Jihad? Arm up,” days before the murder in Illinois.
The increasingly insular social media landscape makes it difficult for researchers and regulators to understand exactly what’s happening on the internet in real-time. Still, the Israel-Hamas conflict is being described as a turning point for misinformation.
Collectively, the leading social media platforms say they’ve removed hundreds of thousands of posts for breaking rules about misinformation and depictions of violence. EU regulators sent letters to X, TikTok, Meta, and Google demanding details about the companies’ efforts to stem the flood of mis- and disinformation about the war. Meanwhile, users on Facebook and Instagram accused Meta of suppressing pro-Palestinian posts. The company said it fixed a “bug” to correct the issue.
Czuba is being held without bail under charges including murder, aggravated assault, and hate crimes.
“As Americans, we must come together and reject Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry and hatred,” Biden’s statement reads. “I have said repeatedly that I will not be silent in the face of hate. We must be unequivocal. There is no place in America for hate against anyone.”
Gizmodo
Plainfield landlord charged with hate crime in killing of 6-year-old Palestinian boy, stabbing of mom
Shardaa Gray, Tara Molina, Mugo Odigwe, Beth Lawrence
Mon, October 16, 2023
CBS
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Plainfield Township landlord is accused of killing a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy and stabbing that boy's mother because they were Muslim.
Prosecutors said Joseph Czuba, 71, wanted the victims to move out of the home they rented from him, and believed he and his wife "were in danger," because he feared the woman he stabbed "was going to call over her Palestinian friends or family to harm them."
Czuba now faces several charges, including three counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery, and two hate crime counts. The two victims were targeted because they were Muslim and because of the war between Israel and Hamas, according to the Will County Sheriff's Office.
During his first court appearance on Monday, a Will County judge denied Czuba pretrial release, after prosecutors argued he was a danger to both the boy's mother and the general public.
The Justice Department has also opened an investigation into the case. The FBI is also now looking into federal hate crime charges.
The boy's mother, 32-year-old Hanaan Shahin, told detectives that on Saturday morning, Czuba, her landlord, attacked her with a knife as she ran to the bathroom to call 911. According to the Will County Sheriff's Office, Czuba stabbed her more than a dozen times and her 6-year-old son, Wadea Al-Fayoume, 26 times.
Will County prosecutors said Shahin told police Czuba knocked on her door Saturday morning, and the two got into an argument over the war between Israel and Hamas. Czuba told Shahin "he was angry at her for what was going on in Jerusalem," prosecutors wrote in a court filing.
When Czuba then attacked Shahin with a knife, she locked herself in a nearby bathroom to get away from Czuba, but was unable to get her son into the bathroom with her.
That's when Shahin called 911 and reported her son was being stabbed, and she said she did not come out of the bathroom until police arrived, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors said Shahin has two other children, who were later found to be with their father in Chicago, and were not at home at the time of the attack.
Detectives also questioned Czuba's wife, who said he frequently listened to conservative talk radio, and was "heavily interested" in the conflict in the Middle East. Czuba wanted Shahin and her son to move out of the home they rented from him, and believed that he and his wife "were in danger" and that Shahin was going to "call over her Palestinian friends or family to harm them."
Czuba's public defender said he was an Air Force veteran who was honorably discharged from the military, is self-employed, owns several properties in Plainfield, and was a longtime member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Plainfield. He also has ongoing health issues due to a prognosis of prostate cancer.
Czuba is due back in court on Oct. 30.
The Council on American Islamic Relations said Wadea had just celebrated his birthday a couple of weeks ago.
"He was a lovely boy who loved his family, his friends. He loved soccer. He loved basketball, and he paid the price for the atmosphere of hate," CAIR Executive Director Ahmed Rehab said of how Wadea's father described him.
Neighbors like Eva Case saw the crime scene Saturday night. The gruesome details behind the stabbing left her in awe.
"I don't care what the situation was," she said. "Don't take it out on somebody that innocent of life."
Neighbors who live near Czuba said the mother and son moved into the home four years ago. Neighbors said they kept to themselves.
As for Czuba, neighbors called him eccentric, and said they were concerned at times about signs in front of the house. Some were political and religious.
"I see the man that lived there outside gardening all the time, every week. Every time I come home, he's outside," Case said.
CAIR said it just issued a release a few days ago warning about creating anti-Muslim atmospheres where someone could get hurt.
"He has no clue about these larger issues happening in the world, but he was made to pay for it," Rehab said of Wadea.
Family members said the little boy's father was at Saturday's press conference but was too shocked to speak. CAIR said it is disgusted not only by this horrible act but also by the exaggeration of Jihad Day. They said they believe if there were no anti-Muslim narrative, this would not have happened.
"This crime wakes up a fear inside us," said Wadea's uncle, Yousef Hannon. "We are not animals, we are humans. We want people to see us as humans."
Both Muslim and Jewish organizations have condemned the horrific attack, including the Chicago Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the Anti-Defamation League.
"It's horrific and absolutely unacceptable," said David Goldenberg with the Anti-Defamation League.
Goldenberg said the tragedy of the Plainfield boy puts a spotlight on the responsibility news outlets, social media companies and leaders have when using their platforms.
"How people get information and who they get that information from is really important," Goldenberg said.
President Joe Biden released a statement Sunday condemning the attack, saying, "As Americans, we must come together and reject Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry and hatred. I have said repeatedly that I will not be silent in the face of hate. We must be unequivocal. There is no place in America for hate against anyone."
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker also released a statement calling the attack "nothing short of evil." Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson shared his condolences, saying, "This despicable hate crime is a shameful reminder of the destructive role Islamophobia plays in our society."
Plainfield District 202 released the following statement:
Mon, October 16, 2023
CBS
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Plainfield Township landlord is accused of killing a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy and stabbing that boy's mother because they were Muslim.
Prosecutors said Joseph Czuba, 71, wanted the victims to move out of the home they rented from him, and believed he and his wife "were in danger," because he feared the woman he stabbed "was going to call over her Palestinian friends or family to harm them."
Czuba now faces several charges, including three counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery, and two hate crime counts. The two victims were targeted because they were Muslim and because of the war between Israel and Hamas, according to the Will County Sheriff's Office.
During his first court appearance on Monday, a Will County judge denied Czuba pretrial release, after prosecutors argued he was a danger to both the boy's mother and the general public.
The Justice Department has also opened an investigation into the case. The FBI is also now looking into federal hate crime charges.
The boy's mother, 32-year-old Hanaan Shahin, told detectives that on Saturday morning, Czuba, her landlord, attacked her with a knife as she ran to the bathroom to call 911. According to the Will County Sheriff's Office, Czuba stabbed her more than a dozen times and her 6-year-old son, Wadea Al-Fayoume, 26 times.
Will County prosecutors said Shahin told police Czuba knocked on her door Saturday morning, and the two got into an argument over the war between Israel and Hamas. Czuba told Shahin "he was angry at her for what was going on in Jerusalem," prosecutors wrote in a court filing.
When Czuba then attacked Shahin with a knife, she locked herself in a nearby bathroom to get away from Czuba, but was unable to get her son into the bathroom with her.
That's when Shahin called 911 and reported her son was being stabbed, and she said she did not come out of the bathroom until police arrived, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors said Shahin has two other children, who were later found to be with their father in Chicago, and were not at home at the time of the attack.
Detectives also questioned Czuba's wife, who said he frequently listened to conservative talk radio, and was "heavily interested" in the conflict in the Middle East. Czuba wanted Shahin and her son to move out of the home they rented from him, and believed that he and his wife "were in danger" and that Shahin was going to "call over her Palestinian friends or family to harm them."
Czuba's public defender said he was an Air Force veteran who was honorably discharged from the military, is self-employed, owns several properties in Plainfield, and was a longtime member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Plainfield. He also has ongoing health issues due to a prognosis of prostate cancer.
Czuba is due back in court on Oct. 30.
The Council on American Islamic Relations said Wadea had just celebrated his birthday a couple of weeks ago.
"He was a lovely boy who loved his family, his friends. He loved soccer. He loved basketball, and he paid the price for the atmosphere of hate," CAIR Executive Director Ahmed Rehab said of how Wadea's father described him.
Neighbors like Eva Case saw the crime scene Saturday night. The gruesome details behind the stabbing left her in awe.
"I don't care what the situation was," she said. "Don't take it out on somebody that innocent of life."
Neighbors who live near Czuba said the mother and son moved into the home four years ago. Neighbors said they kept to themselves.
As for Czuba, neighbors called him eccentric, and said they were concerned at times about signs in front of the house. Some were political and religious.
"I see the man that lived there outside gardening all the time, every week. Every time I come home, he's outside," Case said.
CAIR said it just issued a release a few days ago warning about creating anti-Muslim atmospheres where someone could get hurt.
"He has no clue about these larger issues happening in the world, but he was made to pay for it," Rehab said of Wadea.
Family members said the little boy's father was at Saturday's press conference but was too shocked to speak. CAIR said it is disgusted not only by this horrible act but also by the exaggeration of Jihad Day. They said they believe if there were no anti-Muslim narrative, this would not have happened.
"This crime wakes up a fear inside us," said Wadea's uncle, Yousef Hannon. "We are not animals, we are humans. We want people to see us as humans."
Both Muslim and Jewish organizations have condemned the horrific attack, including the Chicago Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the Anti-Defamation League.
"It's horrific and absolutely unacceptable," said David Goldenberg with the Anti-Defamation League.
Goldenberg said the tragedy of the Plainfield boy puts a spotlight on the responsibility news outlets, social media companies and leaders have when using their platforms.
"How people get information and who they get that information from is really important," Goldenberg said.
President Joe Biden released a statement Sunday condemning the attack, saying, "As Americans, we must come together and reject Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry and hatred. I have said repeatedly that I will not be silent in the face of hate. We must be unequivocal. There is no place in America for hate against anyone."
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker also released a statement calling the attack "nothing short of evil." Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson shared his condolences, saying, "This despicable hate crime is a shameful reminder of the destructive role Islamophobia plays in our society."
Plainfield District 202 released the following statement:
"We send our deepest condolences to the family and our District 202 community on the devastating loss of our student.
Social work and grief counseling is available today and we will continue to provide support services to our students and staff in the coming days. Our staff will keep a close eye on students for any signs of emotional distress which will be addressed and supported."
CBS 2 has learned that Wadea's funeral will happen Monday at 1 p.m. at a mosque in Bridgeview.
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