The Will County Sheriff’s Office, on Sunday, confirmed that the motive behind this heinous act was anti-Muslim hatred.
In a tragic incident that occurred in a Chicago suburb on Saturday morning, a man carried out a brutal attack that resulted in the first degree murder of a 6-year-old boy and left a woman critically injured
The suspect, identified as Joseph Czuba, is currently in custody at the Will County Adult Detention facility. He faces multiple charges, including first degree murder, attempted first degree murder, and two counts of committing a hate crime, according to authorities.
The charges were officially filed shortly before 2 p.m., and they shed light on the horrific attack that took place. The young victim, Wadea Al-Fayoume, who recently celebrated his 6th birthday, was stabbed a shocking 26 times with a military-style knife at his residence in unincorporated Plainfield, just prior to 11:40 a.m.
Investigators from Will County established that the young boy and his mother fell victim to their landlord, Joseph M. Czuba, a 71-year-old individual radicalized by the prevailing environment. He targeted them due to their Muslim faith and the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis.
Ahmed Rehab, the president of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, characterized the attack as a senseless and cowardly act
He revealed that the assailant had made threats against the victims and referred to them as “Muslims who must die” during the assault. The mother, who is 32 years old, was hospitalized in serious condition but is expected to recover from her injuries. As for Czuba, he has not provided a statement to the police, but investigators believe they have gathered enough physical evidence and witness statements to support the charges against him.
Wadea’s funeral is scheduled for Monday, as the community mourns the loss of an innocent child in a shocking case of first degree murder fueled by hatred.
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