Gone quiet · last update May 2, 2025 / Illinois
The killing of a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy near Chicago in a hate crime
Overview · reviewed October 28, 2026
In October 2023, amid the Israel-Hamas war, a 71-year-old landlord near Chicago stabbed his Palestinian American tenant, Hanan Shaheen, and killed her 6-year-old son, Wadee Alfayoumi, in what authorities called an anti-Muslim hate crime.[1][2][3] Joseph Czuba was convicted of murder and hate crimes in February 2025.[3]
Joseph Czuba was convicted of murder and hate crimes in February 2025.[3]
Coverage over time
LeftCenterRight
Weekly counts, outlets and reports (4 weeks with coverage)
| Week of (UTC) | Left | Center | Right | Of tracked | Share | Receipts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 2025 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 4% | |
| Oct 23, 2023 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 3% | |
| Oct 16, 2023 | 19 | 33 | 10 | 62 | 25% | |
| Oct 9, 2023 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3% |
Latest coverage
Background
Authorities said the landlord, upset over the Israel-Hamas war, attacked Shaheen with a knife when she proposed that they "pray for peace."[2] He was charged with murder and hate crimes,[4][5] and President Joe Biden condemned the killing as a "horrific act of hate."[6] The boy was buried after a funeral attended by interfaith leaders,[7] and his mother, who was stabbed multiple times, left the hospital a week later.[8] In February 2025 a jury convicted Czuba, then 73.[3]
Supporting stories (8)
- Man killed Muslim boy and wounded woman in hate crime motivated by Israeli-Hamas war, police say
- 6-year-old boy is buried, mother treated after attack that police call an anti-Muslim hate crime
- Illinois landlord sentenced in fatal stabbing of 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy
- Plainfield landlord charged with hate crime in stabbing that killed 6-year-old Muslim boy, injured mom
- Police: Illinois man killed Muslim boy, injured mother in stabbing driven by religious hate
- Biden Condemns ‘Horrific Act Of Hate’ After 6-Year-Old Palestinian-American Is Stabbed To Death In Illinois
- Mourners in Palestinian Chicago suburb remember Muslim boy who was killed as kind, energetic
- Mother of 6-year-old killed in alleged anti-Muslim attack near Chicago released from hospital after being stabbed over a dozen times
The full record
October 2023
- Mother of 6-year-old killed in alleged anti-Muslim attack near Chicago released from hospital after being stabbed over a dozen times
- Police: Illinois man killed Muslim boy, injured mother in stabbing driven by religious hate
- Mourners in Palestinian Chicago suburb remember Muslim boy who was killed as kind, energetic
- Biden Condemns ‘Horrific Act Of Hate’ After 6-Year-Old Palestinian-American Is Stabbed To Death In Illinois
- 6-year-old boy is buried, mother treated after attack that police call an anti-Muslim hate crime
- Plainfield landlord charged with hate crime in stabbing that killed 6-year-old Muslim boy, injured mom
- Man killed Muslim boy and wounded woman in hate crime motivated by Israeli-Hamas war, police say
Coverage & sources
Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.