(VitalNews.org) – A 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy was murdered and his mother injured on Sunday by a 71-year-old landlord in Chicago in what authorities suspect is a hate crime inspired by the recent conflict in Israel after the coordinated attack by Hamas on October 7.
Wadea Al-Fayoume, who was only six years old, and his mother, 32-year-old Hanaan Shahin, were attacked on Sunday by Joseph M. Czuba, who was their landlord.
On October 15, Czuba came to the family’s home and attacked Shahin after she let him inside. He choked Shahin and struck her with a large knife as she fled. Shahin managed to escape and then locked herself in the bathroom where she called 911. While she was in there, Czuba found Al-Fayoume and killed him.
Officers showed up and found Czuba with a cut on his head sitting on the ground outside the residence. Inside, the boy was found dead and Shahin suffered multiple stab wounds and remains in the hospital. Czuba was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. He was also charged with two counts of aggravated battery using a deadly weapon and hate crimes. Chicago police noted text messages from Shahin to her son’s father explaining that before the stabbing Czuba shouted “You Muslims must die!”
Czuba is currently being held in a detention facility in Will County, Illinois, and awaits an appearance in court.
President Joe Biden released a statement and condemned the savage murder. The president said that “hate against anyone” has “no place in America,” adding that he and the First Lady “were shocked and sickened” by the news.
The Chicago incident is one of a few recent incidents against Palestinians and Jews in the US and other countries following the escalation in conflict in the Middle East, which has also emphasized political divisions without both major political parties.
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