Illinois Landlord Fatally Stabs 6-Year-Old Muslim Boy Due to Paranoia Caused by Conservative Radio Show
In a chilling incident that shook the community, Joseph Czuba, a 71-year-old Illinois landlord, appeared in court after allegedly brutally stabbing to death a 6-year-old Muslim boy, Wadea Al-Fayoume, and attacking the boy's mother, 32-year-old Hanan Shaheen.
Court documents have unveiled Czuba's paranoid beliefs, which tragically culminated in this heinous crime, per the NY Post.
During a 45-minute court hearing, prosecutors revealed that Czuba had been obsessively listening to conservative radio talk shows that covered the violence in Israel.
He became convinced that his Muslim tenants, including the young boy and his mother, were planning acts of terror as part of a "day of jihad" called for by Hamas leaders.
Czuba's wife informed investigators that he believed he was in danger and Shaheen was going to call Palestinian friends to harm them.
When the expected day of jihad passed without any terror attacks, Czuba became convinced that "the grid" would go down the following day and even withdrew $1,000 in cash from the bank while expressing his desire to evict their Muslim tenants.
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The Fatal Illinois Stabbing Incident
The fatal incident unfolded when Czuba knocked on Shaheen's door, and an argument ensued regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Shaheen suggested they should "pray for peace," but the argument escalated into a physical altercation, according to NBC Chicago.
Shaheen managed to escape by locking herself in the bathroom and calling 911, but she could not bring her son with her.
When the police arrived, they discovered Wadea with multiple stab wounds to his chest, while Shaheen had sustained more than a dozen stab wounds to her body but was expected to survive.
Tragically, Wadea later succumbed to his injuries. An autopsy revealed that the young Muslim boy had been stabbed 26 times with a 12-inch military knife.
During his court appearance, a Will County Judge denied the Illinois landlord's pretrial release due to the severity of the crimes and the broader threat to public safety.
He will be assigned a public defender and remain detained until the next court hearing scheduled for October 30 at 9 AM.
Joe Biden, Kamala Harris React to Illinois Stabbing that Kills Muslim Boy
The incident, currently being investigated as a federal hate crime by the Department of Justice, prompted a strong response from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, POLITICO reports.
President Biden expressed his shock and condemnation, emphasizing that such acts of hate have no place in America and calling for unity against Islamophobia and bigotry.
Vice President Harris echoed these sentiments, asserting that hate has no place in the United States and standing in solidarity with Muslim and Arab communities.
The tragic incident has heightened concerns about violence fueled by antisemitic or Islamophobic sentiments, with authorities acknowledging the fears within Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian communities.
Illinois lawmakers also conveyed their condolences and condemned the killing as an act of evil.
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Written by: Bert Hoover
WATCH: Illinois landlord arrested for fatally stabbing 6-year-old Muslim boy in alleged hate crime - From CBS Mornings