Jury Selection to Begin Monday for Plainfield Landlord Charged with Killing 6-year-old Palestinian American Boy
Joseph Czuba Accused of Stabbing Hanan Shaheen and Her 6-year-old Son, Wadee Al Fayoumi, in a Case that Drew National Attention
Jury selection is set to begin Monday in the trial of a Plainfield landlord accused of attacking a Palestinian American woman and killing her 6-year-old son after prosecutors say he was radicalized by conservative commentary around the war in Gaza.
The Attack
On the morning of October 14, 2023, Czuba allegedly knocked on the door to the family’s unit and began arguing with Shaheen about the Middle East, according to prosecutors. He allegedly stabbed Shaheen in the head and body. Shaheen locked herself in a bathroom with a phone, according to prosecutors, but was unable to bring her son with her. She called 911 and told a dispatcher that “the landlord is killing her baby with a knife,” prosecutors said.
Investigation
Officers arrived and found the boy lying shirtless on a bed, prosecutors said. He had been stabbed 26 times, according to the Will County sheriff’s office. In the days that followed, thousands attended services and vigils to honor Wadee. Family and community members gathered again in October 2024 for a remembrance ceremony, one year after the attack.
Judge’s Ruling
On Thursday, a judge ruled that prosecutors may use statements Czuba made to a Will County sheriff’s deputy that “would incriminate him on the charges of hate crime or at the very least provide evidence of motive for the crimes he did allegedly commit,” according to the state’s filing.
Background
Czuba, 73, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated battery, and two counts of committing a hate crime. He was ordered to remain in Will County Jail while awaiting trial. According to Will County prosecutors, Czuba’s wife told detectives that Czuba “believed he was in danger and [his tenant, Shaheen] was going to call Palestinian friends to come and harm them.” He was also worried about a “national day of jihad” on October 13 and allegedly told his wife that if nothing happened that day, it would happen the next, without any further specifications.
Community Response
The case drew national attention, with Wadee becoming a symbol of anti-Palestinian violence. In October 2024, Shaheen met with President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss her grief, anti-Palestinian hate, and dehumanizing political rhetoric. Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said during a remembrance ceremony, “They were picked almost randomly to represent all of us, and so in that sense we were all stabbed, we were all wounded, we were all killed that day.”
Wrongful-Death Lawsuit
In addition to the criminal case, Wadee’s family has also filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Czuba, his wife, his brother, and their property management companies.
FAQs
* What is the alleged motive behind the attack?
+ Czuba was allegedly radicalized by conservative commentary around the war in Gaza.
* How many times was Wadee Al Fayoumi stabbed?
+ He was stabbed 26 times.
* What is the current status of the trial?
+ Jury selection is set to begin Monday.
* What is the alleged extent of Czuba’s involvement in the attack?
+ He is accused of attacking Shaheen and killing her 6-year-old son.
