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On October 14, 2023, Wadea al-Fayoume, a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy, was killed when he was stabbed 26 times in his home in Plainfield Township, Illinois, in what authorities said was an anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate crime. His mother, Hanaan Shahin, was also stabbed and choked, leaving her critically injured. Authorities said the killing was an extremist reaction to the contemporaneous 2023 Israel–Hamas war, a part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

The suspect, a 71-year-old man who was Shahin's landlord, was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and hate crimes. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Killing

According to the Will County Sheriff's Office, around 11:38 a.m. on October 14, 2023, the landlord of 32-year-old Hanaan Shahin knocked on the door of her home. After Shahin answered the door, her landlord allegedly attempted to choke her and stabbed her while yelling "You Muslims must die." Shahin scratched him then ran to the bathroom and called 9-1-1. When she came out, she found al-Fayoume with multiple stab wounds. Al-Fayoume and Shahin were transported to the hospital, where al-Fayoume was pronounced dead and Shahin was treated in critical condition. Her landlord was arrested outside the home once police arrived at the scene.

Accused

Authorities stated that the attack was motivated by anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian extremism following the escalation in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in October 2023.

At a hearing on October 16, the accused's wife said that her husband "regularly listens to conservative talk radio and was very interested in current events". He was afraid that a "national day of jihad" would happen on October 13, and that his tenants would call Palestinian friends to come and harm him and his wife. He also withdrew $1,000 from the bank in case "the grid" would go down.

Shaheen told detectives that the accused came to her door on October 14, angry with her about what was happening in Jerusalem. After she responded "let's give peace a chance", he attacked her with a knife.

Legal proceedings

Prosecutors have charged the suspect with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and two counts of committing hate crimes. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison. On October 15, United States Attorney General Merrick Garland and the United States Department of Justice opened a federal hate crime investigation into the attack.

Aftermath

A vigil for al-Fayoume was held shortly after his death, with hundreds of people gathering in Plainfield at a local basketball court to mark his love for the sport. His father spoke to the crowd calling his son an "All-American boy" who was always smiling and full of love, with other friends and family members speaking. The highest-ranking Muslim in the Biden administration, Dilawar Syed, was also in attendance and spoke on behalf of the President.

A fundraiser was created through LaunchGood, to help cover funeral and medical expenses for al-Fayoume and his mother. A portion of the fundraiser would be sectioned off to provide safe and secure housing for Shaheen, with another being earmarked for creating a continuous charity in al-Fayoume's name.

Reactions

The attack prompted many public statements and condemning from public officials and organizations, including from Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Council on American–Islamic Relations. U.S. President Joe Biden also condemned the attack in a public statement:

Jill and I were shocked and sickened to learn of the brutal murder of a six-year-old child and the attempted murder of the child's mother in their home yesterday in Illinois. The child's Palestinian Muslim family came to America seeking what we all seek—a refuge to live, learn, and pray in peace. This horrific act of hate has no place in America, and stands against our fundamental values: freedom from fear for how we pray, what we believe, and who we are. As Americans, we must come together and reject Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry and hatred. I have said repeatedly that I will not be silent in the face of hate. We must be unequivocal. There is no place in America for hate against anyone. We join everyone here at the White House in sending our condolences and prayers to the family, including for the mother's recovery, and to the broader Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim American communities.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet in Illinois, as well as the St. Mary Immaculate Parish of Plainfield, where the accused and his wife are parishioners, also made public statements condemning the event. Rabbi Rosen of Tzedek Chicago denounced the killing and expressed concern that the attack stemmed from the continued dehumanization of Palestinians and Muslims. Similar comments were echoed by a volunteer with Chicago's Jewish Voices for Peace who cautioned the continuation of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.

The attack and other events have led many Palestinian Americans and other Muslims to cancel plans, monitor their speech and actions, become more vigilant with the safety of themselves and family members, and become afraid to express concern for loved ones trapped in Gaza. A similar concern was seen by Jewish Americans, and security has been increased around mosques and synagogues across the country.

See also

• Killing of Paul Kessler
• Mark Anthony Stroman
• Murder of Balbir Singh Sodhi
• Islamophobia in the United States

References

1. ^ "Slaying of 6-year-old Muslim in Illinois connected to Israel-Hamas war". Politico. Associated Press. October 15, 2023. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
2. ^ Norkol, Mary; Camarillo, Emmanuel (October 16, 2023). "Palestinian American boy stabbed to death, his mom wounded in suburban hate crime motivated by war in Israel, police say". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
3. ^ Kawash, Maher (October 15, 2023). "Man targeted 6-year-old boy, woman in deadly Plainfield stabbing because they are Muslim: detectives". WLS-TV. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
4. ^ Diaz, Johnny; Smith, Mitch; Chiarito, Robert (October 15, 2023). "6-Year-Old Boy Fatally Stabbed in Anti-Muslim Attack, Authorities Say". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
5. ^ Boyette, Chris; Allen, Keith (October 15, 2023). "Landlord charged with hate crimes after fatally stabbing a 6-year-old and wounding his mom because they were Muslim, authorities say". CNN. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
6. ^ Pérez, Adriana (October 15, 2023). "Plainfield man charged with killing boy, mother for being Muslim". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
7. "Details emerge following court hearing for Illinois landlord who attacked, stabbed Muslim child, mom in hate crime". WMAQ-TV. October 16, 2023. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
8. ^ Struett, David (October 16, 2023). "Plainfield man fatally stabbed 6-year-old Muslim boy after listening to conservative talk radio, prosecutors say". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023. As the war between Hamas and Israel unfolded in recent days, a Plainfield man became increasingly concerned about what he was hearing on conservative talk radio — and became agitated about the tenants living in his home, a Palestinian American mother and her young son, prosecutors said.
9. Stefanski, Matt; Sisk, Courtney (October 15, 2023). "Boy, mother stabbed in Plainfield Twp. were targeted because of their Islamic faith: Police". WMAQ-TV. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
10. "Attorney General Statement on the Killing of Six-Year-Old Child Wadea Al-Fayoume and Severe Wounding of His Mother Hanaan Shahin in Illinois" (Press release). United States Department of Justice. October 15, 2023. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
11. Rose, Nouran Salahieh, Andy (October 18, 2023). "'I am not a threat': Hundreds gather for vigil mourning 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy who was stabbed to death near Chicago". CNN. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
12. Rosca, Emily (October 16, 2023). "Fundraiser For Slain Plainfield Boy's Funeral Cost, Mother's Hospital Bills Established". Plainfield, IL Patch. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
13. ^ Frazier, Kierra (October 16, 2023). "'Shocked and sickened': Biden condemns killing of 6-year-old Muslim boy". Politico. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
14. Biden, Joe (October 15, 2023). "Statement from President Joe Biden". whitehouse.gov. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
15. Christian, Gina (October 17, 2023). "Illinois man who killed Palestinian boy, wounded mother is Catholic parishioner". The Catholic Review. OSV News. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023. In an email to OSV News, the Diocese of Joliet, Ill., said it had confirmed and his wife are members of St. Mary Immaculate Parish in Plainfield. St. Mary Immaculate's pastor, Father Pat Mulcahy, told OSV News by email that 'our hearts are absolutely broken, and ache for the family and all those affected.'
16. Malik, Neshmia (October 16, 2023). "'Dehumanizing:' Chicago Jewish leaders on disinformation after fatal stabbing of 6yo. Palestinian boy". WGN-TV. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
17. Paquette, Danielle; Wax-Thibodeaux, Emily (October 18, 2023). "Fearing blame for Gaza conflict, anxiety grows among U.S. Palestinians". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 19, 2023.

• Crime
• Illinois
• Islam
• Palestine

• 2023 in Illinois
• 2020s crimes in Illinois
• October 2023 crimes in the United States
• Stabbing attacks in 2023
• Anti-Muslim violence in the United States
• Anti-Palestinian sentiment in the United States
• Arab-American history
• Deaths by person in Illinois
• Deaths by stabbing in Illinois
• Incidents of violence against boys
• Incidents of violence against women
• Reactions to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
• Plainfield, Illinois