JOLIET, Ill. – A landlord from unincorporated Plainfield, Joseph Czuba, is scheduled to appear in court for the alleged stabbing death of a six-year-old boy. Relatives of the child have organized a vigil to honor him before the court proceedings.
Czuba is facing charges of first-degree murder and two counts of hate crime. He pleaded not guilty during his last court appearance. The charges stem from the fatal stabbing of the six-year-old, Wadee Al-Fayoume, and the serious injury of his mother in their home near south Lincoln Highway.
The Will County state’s attorney has brought forth the hate crime charges and cited evidence of the attack being motivated by the victims’ Muslim faith. The family had been renting an apartment unit from Czuba for the past two years.
Czuba was previously denied bond, and a vigil is planned to take place outside the courthouse, where local faith-based organizations will come together to remember Wadee Al-Fayoume.
The incident has deeply affected the local community, and the upcoming court appearance for the landlord has reignited the conversation about the impact of hate crimes. The family and friends of the victim are likely to seek justice and closure through the legal process.
The tragic events leading to the death of the young boy have sparked an outpouring of support and solidarity, as the community comes together to remember and honor Wadee Al-Fayoume.