Will County stabbing, hate crime suspect found guilty on all counts in attack that killed boy
Muslim boy Wadee Alfayoumi stabbed to death by landlord Joseph Czuba in October 2023, mother injured
JOLIET, Ill. (WLS) -- The man accused of killing a 6-year-old Muslim boy in a hate crime attack in unincorporated Plainfield has been found guilty on all counts.
Joseph Czuba, 73, was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery and hate crimes.
In closing arguments, prosecutors shared the gruesome details of what happened October 14, 2023, even showing the very knife Czuba used in the deadly, hate-filled attack.
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The unincorporated Plainfield landlord killed 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and seriously injured the boy's mother.
Prosecutors said he attacked his two tenants in 2023 over their Muslim faith.
Wadee's mother rented rooms at Czuba's home for two years before prosecutors allege Czuba demanded his Muslim tenants to move out in the days following the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The young boy had just celebrated a birthday, and was stabbed 26 times, according to the doctor who did the autopsy.
"He went after this boy because of hatred for the Muslim community," prosecutor Chris Koch said in closing arguments.
The prosecutor showed the very knife used to kill Alfayoumi in court Friday morning during the state's closing arguments, replaying the 911 call the boy's mother, Hanan Shaheen, made, begging for help. The prosecutor also showed images of her injuries as she fought for her life and fought to save her son's life.
A Will County sergeant who transported Czuba that day testified Thursday. Recordings of Czuba in the backseat were played in court. He could be heard making comments about the Israel-Hamas war, saying,
"I was afraid for my life, my wife."
"I thought they were going to do jihad on me."
"They are just like infested rats."
"(She) didn't tell me she was a Muslim."
"I begged her to get out for three days; she would not leave."
Defense attorneys claimed evidence was overlooked and investigators rushed to judgement in the case.
Czuba waived his right to testify. Thus, closing arguments took place Friday morning in the hate crime case that caught national attention.
After closing arguments, the 12-person jury began their deliberations, about 12:20 p.m. A verdict was in about an hour later.
The jury found Czuba guilty on all charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, and hate crimes.
As the sun went down on the Will County courthouse, Muslim leaders enter Ramadan with a solemn victory.
"It's a moment to grieve Wadee, but it's a moment to ask what are we doing to insure Wadee is the last," said Amina Barhumi with the Muslim Civic Coalition.
Muslim organizers spoke following the hearing, highlighting the threat of Islamophobia.
"This could have been any one of our boys any one of our girls it just so happened that is was Wadee Alfayoumi but when he was targeted all of our children were targeted," said Ahmed Rehab with CAIR Chicago.
Wadee's family was in the courtroom as the gruesome moments were detailed along with hearing the 911 call made by the boy's mother as she begged for help amid the attack.
Alfayoumi's father, Odai Alfayoumi, also spoke. The father's comments were translated from Arabic.
"I pray that this loss his senseless loss is the last that we will see that no child will suffer what my beloved Wadee had to go through," Odai Alfayoumi said.
Wadee's cousin, Hela Yousef, remembered one of her final moments with the boy.
"My last memory of him was him getting into my bed and cuddling, watching an educational video," Yousef said. "It was a positive memory I'll never forget."
The surviving victim in the attack, Wadee's mother, was not in the courtroom when the verdict was handed down. She has filed a civil lawsuit against Czuba.
Czuba is set to be sentenced in May.
