A landlord who was jailed for decades after he attacked a Palestinian American boy and his mother has passed away. Three months ago, Joseph Czuba was sentenced to 53 years behind bars for the assault. He was found guilty in February of murder, attempted murder, and hate-crime charges in 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 because of their Islamic faith and in response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Czuba passed away on Thursday while in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Evidence presented during the trial included emotional testimony from Shaheen, a distressing 911 call, bloody crime scene images, and police footage. The jury took less than 90 minutes to reach a verdict.
The attack reignited concerns about anti-Muslim bias, especially in communities like Plainfield and its surroundings, where a significant Palestinian population resides. Wadee’s funeral received massive attendance, and a park playground has been dedicated in his memory.