Disincorporation. Plainfield stabbing: Mother of Wadea Al-Fayoume, her child killed in Will County attack, considered moving, lawsuit says

WILL COUNTY, IL — Wadea Al-Fayoume's mother considered moving them out of their apartment near Plainfield days before their landlord attacked them both, killing the 6-year-old in an alleged hate crime.

Hanan Shaheen became concerned after her landlord said they were not welcome because they were Palestinian-Americans shortly after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and that he had consulted the wife from the owner, according to an amended lawsuit filed on behalf of Shaheen.

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The owner's wife said they shouldn't move, according to the lawsuit. Instead, the owner's wife reportedly said her husband should move out and that Shaheen and her son were safe.

The amended lawsuit, filed May 22 in Will County, alleges that Joseph Czuba's wife and brother played incidental roles that led to the Oct. 14 attack in which Czuba is accused of stabbed Al-Fayoume 26 times because of his ethnicity.

The wrongful death suit was initially filed in late November by the boy's father. The mother was added as lead plaintiff because she now seeks to administer the boy's estate, said her attorney, John M. Simon.

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Czuba remains jailed in Will County on murder and hate crime charges. Prosecutors said Czuba listened to conservative radio shows that may have radicalized him before the attack. He reportedly feared Al-Fayoume's mother's “Palestinian friends” after Hamas's attack on Israel.

The amended lawsuit contains other new details about the attack, including how Shaheen was bathing Al-Fayoume when Czuba knocked on the door that morning.

When Shaheen opened the door, Czuba allegedly attacked her and stabbed her multiple times with a knife. Al-Fayoume witnessed the entire attack, the lawsuit says.

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When Czuba left briefly, Shaheen called 911. But before police arrived, Czuba returned and forced open a door and attacked Al-Fayoume, the lawsuit says.

The last words she heard her son say were “Oh no,” according to the lawsuit.

She only learned of her son's death when she arrived at the hospital.

The amended lawsuit expands the list of defendants to include Czuba's wife, Mary Czuba, and his brother, Daniel Czuba, who was allegedly the real estate agent who recommended Shaheen consider the property for rental. The lawsuit alleges that Daniel Czuba neglected to reveal his brother's “violent tendencies, temperament and prejudices against Arabs and Muslims.”

Daniel Czuba's attorney, Tom Scherschel, declined to comment. Mary Czuba's attorney, Brian White, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire – Copyright Chicago Sun-Times 2024.)