Illinois Man Convicted of Murder, Hate Crimes in Killing of 6-Year-Old Palestinian Boy

Joseph Czuba, a 73-year-old man, was found guilty by an Illinois jury of first-degree murder and hate crimes for the fatal stabbing of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi, a Palestinian American, and the wounding of his mother, Hanan Shaheen, in October 2023. The attack was described as motivated by anti-Muslim sentiments, occurring shortly after the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Prosecutors presented evidence of Czuba's escalating hostility towards the victims, including his threats and violent actions, which were reportedly influenced by media coverage of the war. Following the verdict, Wadee's father expressed mixed emotions, feeling that the justice came too late for his son. Czuba's sentencing is scheduled for May 2, 2025, amidst broader discussions of rising anti-Palestinian rhetoric in the U.S. community. The case has prompted a federal hate crimes investigation by the U.S. Justice Department due to its significant implications for the local Palestinian community.