Landlord who assassinated Palestinian American boy died in prison | Illinois

A landlord was sentenced to jail decades after attacking a Palestinian American boy and his mother died.

Three months ago, Joseph Czuba was sentenced to 53 years in prison for the attack. He is Convicted In February of the murder, the death of Wadee Alfayoumi and the injury of the boy’s mother, Hanan Shaheen.

The 73-year-old Czuba targeted them in October 2023 for his Islamic beliefs and was a response to the war between Israel and Hamas a few days ago.

Kuba died on Thursday Illinois The Chicago Sun Times reported that the corrections department cites the Will County Sheriff’s Office cited. Law enforcement agencies did not call back, seeking comments on the death.

Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of the U.S. Council on Islamic Relations Chicago “This fallen killer has died, but hatred is still alive and good,” the office said in a statement Saturday.

Evidence at the trial includes painful testimony from Shaheen and her crazy 911 calls, as well as bloody crime scene photos and police videos. The jurors reviewed less than 90 minutes before the verdict.

The family had been renting rooms at the Coochuba’s house in Plainfield at the time of the attack, about 40 miles (64 km) from Chicago.

Shaheen told juror Czuba that attacked her before transferring to her son, insisting that they had to leave because they were Muslims. The prosecutor also called 911 and showed police videos. Kubai’s wife Mary has since divorced, and he also testified by prosecutors, saying he was excited about the Israel-Hamas war that broke out a few days ago.

After the war began, Kubai told Shahin that they had to move out because Muslims were not popular. Later, he attacked her and her son.

Shahin said: “He told me: ‘As a Muslim, you have to die.”

Shaheen had more than a dozen stab wounds.

Kuba attacked her with a knife and then chased her son in another room. Police said Kuba stabbed the boy 26 times and left the knife on the child. Some of the bloody crime scene photos were so clear that the judge agreed to turn the TV screen and show them audiences, including Wadee’s relatives.

The growing hostilities against Muslims and Palestinians since Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, a case that has sparked headlines around the world, causing about 1,200 Israelis, as well as Israeli attacks on Gaza, causing more than 48,000 Palestinians.

The attack suffered a particularly severe blow in and around Plainfield, which boasts large and established Palestinian communities. Wadee’s funeral attracted a large crowd, and Plainfield officials offered a park playground for his honor.

Marina Dunbar contributes to the report