Fri Feb 28 20:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Illinois Man Found Guilty of Hate Crime Murder of 6-Year-Old Boy
**JOLIET, Ill. —** Joseph Czuba, 73, was found guilty Friday of first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, and hate crimes in the brutal stabbing death of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and the wounding of his mother, Hanan Shaheen. The attack, which occurred on October 14, 2023, in Plainfield Township, was swiftly determined to be fueled by anti-Muslim hatred stemming from the Israel-Hamas war.
The jury reached its verdict after just over an hour of deliberation. Shaheen, who rented rooms from Czuba and his then-wife, testified that Czuba’s hatred escalated in the days following the outbreak of the war, culminating in a violent attack where he repeatedly stabbed her and her son. Wadee suffered 26 stab wounds, while Shaheen sustained more than a dozen. Shaheen’s harrowing 911 call, played for the jury, captured the horrifying scene.
Prosecutors presented evidence highlighting Czuba’s escalating anti-Muslim rhetoric and paranoia surrounding the conflict. They argued that Czuba, who did not testify, viewed Shaheen and her son as a threat, comparing them to “infested rats” in a recorded conversation with police. Czuba’s ex-wife corroborated the account of his escalating anger and fear, stating he believed Shaheen and her associates posed a danger.
The defense, referencing the O.J. Simpson trial, argued for a rush to judgment and questioned certain aspects of the prosecution’s case. However, these arguments failed to sway the jury.
The case drew significant international attention, highlighting concerns within Illinois’ Muslim and Palestinian communities about anti-Muslim sentiment. The graphic nature of the evidence led the judge to shield the courtroom gallery from some of the more disturbing visuals.
The sentencing phase will follow the guilty verdict. Shaheen has also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Czuba and his ex-wife.
First Piper 