Joseph Czuba, Convicted of Hate Crime Murder of Palestinian-American Boy, Dies in Prison
Joseph Czuba, the 73-year-old man convicted of the hate crime murder of 6-year-old Palestinian-American Wadea Alfayoumi and the critical injury of his mother, Hanan Shaheen, died in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections on Thursday, July 24, 2025. The Will County Sheriff's Office confirmed his death on Saturday, July 26, 2025. The exact cause of death has not been immediately released, though some reports indicate he had stage 4 cancer.
Czuba was sentenced to 53 years in prison on May 2, 2025, after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, and two counts of hate crime on February 28, 2025. The charges stemmed from an attack on Wadea Alfayoumi and Hanan Shaheen on October 14, 2023, in their Plainfield Township home. Authorities stated Czuba targeted them due to their Islamic faith and in response to the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on southern Israel.
Following the confirmation of Czuba's death, Ahmed Rehab, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations' (CAIR) Chicago office, stated, "this depraved killer has died, but the hate is still alive and well."
The 2023 Attack and its Aftermath
On October 14, 2023, Joseph Czuba attacked Wadea Alfayoumi and his mother, Hanan Shaheen, in their Plainfield Township home. Wadea Alfayoumi was stabbed 26 times and died at the scene. Hanan Shaheen was also severely injured but survived the attack. Police reports indicated that Czuba pulled a knife from a holder on his belt and left the knife in the child's body.
Authorities quickly classified the attack as a hate crime, citing the victims' Islamic faith and Czuba's anger over the Israel-Hamas conflict as primary motives. The crime sent shockwaves through the Chicago area, home to a large Palestinian community, and sparked widespread condemnation across the nation.
The Trial and Sentencing
The trial of Joseph Czuba commenced in early 2025. Prosecutors presented harrowing testimony from Hanan Shaheen, who recounted the attack and Czuba's hateful words. Shaheen testified that Czuba attacked her before moving to her son, telling her, "You, as a Muslim, must die." The prosecution also presented Shaheen's frantic 911 call, bloody crime scene photos, and police video as evidence. Czuba's ex-wife, Mary, testified that he had become increasingly agitated about the Israel-Gaza war.
On February 28, 2025, the jury deliberated for less than 90 minutes before finding Czuba guilty on all counts: first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, and two counts of hate crime. On May 2, 2025, Czuba was sentenced to 53 years in prison: 30 years for Wadea's murder, 20 years for the attack on Shaheen (to be served consecutively), and three years for the hate crimes.
Statements and Reactions
The attack and subsequent trial drew significant attention from advocacy groups, political figures, and the broader community. Ahmed Rehab, the executive director of CAIR-Chicago, described the attack as "one of the earliest and worst hate crime incidents in the US since the start of Israel's war on Gaza." Then-US President Joe Biden condemned the attack as a "horrific act of hate" that "has no place in America."
Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow stated, "The cruelty of this morally reprehensible killer and the impact of his violent conduct on this innocent child and mother is truly unfathomable."
Context and Stakeholders
The victims of the attack were six-year-old Wadea Alfayoumi and his mother, Hanan Shaheen. They were renting rooms in Czuba's Plainfield home at the time of the attack. The perpetrator, Joseph Czuba, was their 73-year-old landlord, who became agitated by the Israel-Hamas war and directed his hatred towards his Muslim tenants.
Law enforcement agencies involved included the Will County Sheriff's Office and the Illinois Department of Corrections. Advocacy groups such as CAIR and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) have been vocal in condemning the attack and highlighting rising anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian bigotry in the U.S.
The Chicago area, with its large and established Palestinian community, was deeply affected by the attack. Wadea's funeral drew large crowds, and a park playground in Plainfield has been dedicated in his honor.
Impact and Ongoing Concerns
The murder of Wadea Alfayoumi renewed fears of anti-Muslim discrimination and anti-Palestinian bigotry across the U.S. The incident is widely cited as one of the most egregious hate crimes in the US since the Gaza war began, with other similarly motivated incidents occurring across the country.
Organizations like CAIR and ADC continue to advocate against Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian rhetoric, emphasizing that the underlying hatred that fueled this crime remains a concern. The death of Joseph Czuba does not erase the pain and trauma inflicted on Wadea Alfayoumi's family and the broader community, and it underscores the ongoing need to address hate crimes and promote tolerance.
Joseph Czuba died in prison on July 24, 2025.
