Attorney Ben Crump Retained By Mom Of Boy, 6, Killed In Plainfield Township

PLAINFIELD, IL — Hanan Shaheen, the mother of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi, who was fatally stabbed Oct. 14, retained esteemed civil rights attorney Ben Crumb to represent her in court.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) announced Wednesday it will serve as co-counsel, along with the Ben Crump Law Firm, in the case.

"We will be vigorous in pushing back against hate, bigotry and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable," ADC National Executive Director Abed Ayoub said in a statement. "We must stand united in our conviction, ensuring that Wadee’s legacy endures as a potent reminder that hatred and intolerance have no place in a just and compassionate society."

Over the past 20 years, Crump has become the go-to attorney for the families of Black people who were killed by police or others, including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Tyre Nichols.

"There is no tolerance for hate crimes and hate speech in America, and a 6-year-old boy should never have to pay the price for hate-fueled behavior," Crump said in a statement. "The pain endured by the [Alfayoumie] family is immeasurable. No family should have to bear such a devastating loss, compounded by the burden of overwhelming medical bills. We must come together as a society not only to seek justice for [Wadee] but also to support this grieving family in their time of need."

On the morning of Oct. 14, police say Shaheen opened her door to find her 71-year-old landlord, from whom she rented two rooms in a house she shared with him and his wife. Officials said landlord Joseph Czuba began to argue with her over the Middle Eastern conflict between Hamas and Israel.

The dispute became violent as Czuba proceeded to stab her about a dozen times before turning on her son, stabbing him 26 times, according to Will County prosecutors.

Shaheen was able to lock herself in the bathroom before calling 911, saying, "The landlord was killing her baby with a knife," prosecutors said at a hearing Oct. 16. Deputies found the boy unresponsive and not breathing as he lay face down with a knife inserted four inches into his abdomen.

Only eight days had passed since Wadee celebrated his sixth birthday.

RELATED: Hanan Shaheen Speaks Out After Stabbing: 'She Harbors No Hatred'

Czuba was indicted on eight felony charges, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and two hate crimes.

Shaheen was hospitalized in serious condition and was discharged less than a week later. She is "recovering nicely," Deputy Chief Dan Jungles, with the Will County Sheriff's Office, told Patch Monday.

In a letter Tuesday, Council on American-Islamic Relations Executive Director Ahmed Rehab said he was "astonished by [Shaheen's] mental health and composure" and credited her profession as a caregiver to senior citizens as the reason for her giving personality and calm demeanor.