Pritzker Had IL Agencies On Alert For Hate Crimes Before Stabbings

ILLINOIS — One day before a 6-year-old Plainfield boy was stabbed to death by the landlord of an apartment he and his mother were living in, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had put two state agencies on alert to be on the lookout for hate crimes linked to the conflict in Israel.

On Friday, the Illinois Department of Homeland Security issued a news release saying that the agency, along with the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Emergency Agency are closely monitoring the Middle East conflict and potential threats in Illinois.

Pritzker had told all agencies involved to be on a “heightened alert” for any threats to houses of worship across the state. However, on Friday, the agency said that there was no actionable intelligence suggesting that there were any credible threats in Illinois. However, the agency also said that anyone who saw anything suspicious should report it immediately.

"As Governor of Illinois, it is my top priority to keep our residents safe and we are closely monitoring any potential threats that may arise," Pritzker said on Friday, adding, “Here in Illinois, we reject those who use violence to instill terror and fear and are committed to ensuring our religious institutions and schools remain safe."

On Sunday, 71-year-old Plainfield resident Joseph M. Czuba, was charged in the stabbing death of the 6-year-old boy who was identified at Wadea Al-Fayoume. The boy’s mother was also stabbed more than a dozen times, police said.

Police said that Czuba knocked on the door of the apartment where the mother and boy were living and immediately started stabbing the woman.

Wadea and his mother, 32-year-old Hanaan Shahin, were targeted due to their Muslim faith in a hate crime connected to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East involving Hamas and Israel, according to police.

On Friday, Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly issued a statement saying that both law enforcement and Illinois residents needed to be "on guard" against both terrorism and hate crimes during this "period of volatility".

On Sunday, Pritzker and President Joe Biden issued statements, condemning the stabbings, which police have deemed a hate crime. The boy's funeral will be taking place on Monday.

Prior to the fatal stabbing on Saturday morning, both the Department of Homeland Security and State Police had also issued statements about the heightened attention being made toward potential hate crimes connected to the Middle East crisis.

"The unilateral security efforts with all levels of government is critical as we remain vigilant," said Homeland Security Advisor to Governor J.B. Pritzker and IEMA-OHS Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau. "Global conflicts have cascading effects within our communities statewide so we remain vigilant here in Illinois."