Illinois Landlord Accused in Anti-Muslim Hate Crime Appears in Court

Joseph Czuba, charged with the murder of a 6-year-old boy and the attempted murder of the boy's mother, pleads not guilty as community rallies in support of the victims.

Joseph Czuba, 71, an Illinois landlord, is accused of fatally stabbing 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and wounding his mother, Hanan Shaheen, in an alleged hate crime.
Czuba, who was reportedly upset over the Israel-Hamas war, targeted the victims because of their Muslim faith.
Czuba has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of hate crime, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
A vigil was held outside the courthouse during Czuba's pretrial hearing, with members of the Muslim community showing support for the victims' family.
Wadee's father, Odai Alfayoumi, has called for Czuba to face the maximum amount of responsibility for his son's death.