(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – The Will County man accused of fatally stabbing a 6-year-old Muslim boy and critically injuring his mother in a hate crime had listened to conservative media leading up to the attack, according to information aired in court Monday.
Joseph M. Czuba, 71, was ordered held prior to his trial on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, committing a hate crime and aggravated battery.
The Plainfield resident allegedly attacked Wadea Al-Fayoume and his mother, Hanaan Shahin, on Saturday because they are Muslim, authorities said over the weekend. Czuba was their landlord.
According to information in court, Czuba had been listening to conservative media reports during the Israel-Hamas war and had recently withdrawn $1,000 from the bank over concerns the “grid” could go down.
The attack -- Wadea was reportedly stabbed 26 times -- brought public condemnations from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and President Biden, among others, and has drawn international attention.
The child's funeral was held Monday at a Bridgeview mosque. His 32-year-old mother could not attend the funeral because she is hospitalized.
A national Muslim leader, Dr. and Imam, Omar Suleiman, was at the funeral. Speaking beforehand, he drew comparisons between the struggles of Mamie Till-Mobley and what is now the struggle of Wadea’s mother.
“Since the mother of Wadea is not here, we say on her behalf: Let the world see what they have done to her boy,” he said.
The child was buried at Parkholm Cemetery in La Grange.
Listen to our new podcast Looped In: Chicago
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram