Fundraiser For Slain Plainfield Boy's Funeral Cost, Mother's Hospital Bills Established

PLAINFIELD, IL — Two days after a 6-year-old boy was fatally stabbed, and his mother critically injured in their Plainfield Township home, a fundraiser has collected close to $500,000 as of Tuesday afternoon to help offset costs and pay for safe housing for the 32-year-old mother.

The family's landlord is charged with murder, hate crimes and other charges in the slaying, which police believe was motivated by religion.

Around 11:30 a.m. Saturday, prosecutors say Hanan Shaheen, 32, found 71-year-old Joseph Czuba knocking at her door before he began to argue with her about conflict between Hamas and Israel in the Middle East. The argument soon turned violent, officials allege, as Czuba began stabbing the mother before turning to attack her son, Wadee Alfayoumi.

At 11:38 a.m., Will County sheriff's deputies rushed to the house along Plainfield Road after Shaheen called 911, saying "the landlord was killing her baby with a knife," according to prosecutors.

Wadee was found in a room in the back of the house, lying face down with a knife inserted four inches into his abdomen — the child was unresponsive and not breathing. He was rushed to a Joliet hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Patch reported.

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The stabbings and death sent shock waves across the state and country as police and prosecutors called the attack a religiously motivated hate crime.

"His dreams, his laughter, and his life were taken away in a matter of seconds, leaving his family and community in profound grief," fundraiser organizers wrote of the campaign's objective. "He had no clues about the larger issues that were happening in the world, but he was made to pay for it. Every person, woman, Muslim, and especially a child deserves to live free from the threat of such evil."

Created on Launch Good, the fundraiser aims to raise money to help pay for Wadee's funeral expenses and the medical expenses incurred for Shaheen's injuries. A portion of the funds will also be dedicated to providing safe and secure housing for Shaheen, while another segment will go toward creating a continuous charity to benefit others in Wadee's name — "a lasting legacy for the innocent child who was taken from us far too soon."

"[Wadee] was not just any child; he was a bright and energetic young boy who loved basketball and soccer," campaign organizers wrote of the boy, who just turned 6 last week. "He liked swings and coloring. He loved his family and his friends, he loved life."

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The landlord is facing eight felony charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery and two hate crimes. After Monday's hour-long hearing, Will County Judge Donald DeWilkins determined Czuba would remain detained at the Will County jail.

He awaits his preliminary trial, set for 9 a.m. Oct. 30 in Courtroom 202.

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Editor's note: Patch published Wadee Alfayoumi and Hanan Shaheen names' based on the spelling in Will County court documents.