The shocking news is coming out of Plainfield, Illinois as several reports reveal a 6-year-old boy was stabbed to death.
The motive, police claim, was because the child and his family are Muslim. The child, identified as Wadea Al-Fayoume, is a Palestinian-American.
Al-Fayoume and his mother, 32-year-old Hanaan Shahin, were attacked by their landlord Joseph Czuba. Shahin remains hospitalized, having suffered horrific injuries during the attack.
“Detectives were able to determine that both victims in this brutal attack were targeted by the suspect due to them being Muslim and the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis ,” the Will County Sheriff’s Office declared.
Al-Fayoume’s uncle spoke out on behalf of his family following the passing of his son, saying, “He’s a 6-year-old kid. As any other 6-year-old kid, he likes to play games,” Yousef said.
“I just want to tell the whole world that we live in a country called USA. We’re not at war, and we’re not bringing war here, too.”
Wadea was laid to rest two days after being murdered on October 16.
ABC News reports that Czuba has been charged with first-degree murder after the police called the deadly attack a hate crime. Czuba reportedly used a “military-style knife” during the attack.
Although Yousef believes the attack occurred after President Joe Biden’s pro-Israel stance, Biden has released a statement condemning the hate crime perpetrated against the family.
“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.”