Plainfield Boy Was Killed In Hate Crime, Senate Resolution Recognizes

PLAINFIELD, IL — Nearly a year after his death, a U.S. Senate resolution passed this week recognizes that a 6-year-old Plainfield Township boy was killed in a hate crime.

On Oct. 14, 2023, Wadee Alfayoumi was stabbed 26 times and his mother was seriously injured in an attack that prosecutors say was motivated by hatred against their Palestinian heritage.

Their 72-year-old landlord remains jailed on eight charges, including several charges of committing a hate crime and multiple counts of first-degree murder and aggravated assault.

The resolution passed Tuesday acknowledges that Wadee was "a victim of a hate crime for his Palestinian-Muslim identity."

It pays tribute, saying, "Wadee Alfayoumi, a 6-year-old Palestinian-Muslim American boy, was loved by his family and friends as an energetic, loving, and joyous light who brought sunshine to his loved ones and classmates."

But the young boy was killed "by a hate-driven perpetrator and tragically succumbed to his injuries," it says.

The attack on Wadee and his mother came just a week after Hamas' attack on Israel.

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In addition to the charges against the former landlord, the Department of Justice also opened a hate crimes investigation into the events leading to the killing. According to the resolution, "there is evidence the perpetrator yelled during the brutal killing, 'All Muslims must die and your people must die' and has been observed to be a consumer of media containing dehumanizing and hateful rhetoric that is anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian."

The resolution was drafted by the Muslim Civic Coalition in partnership with Democrats Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez, ABC Chicago reported.

"The Wadee Resolution uplifts his proud Palestinian heritage as a powerful and beautiful community that represents the best of our nation," the coalition said in a statement.

The resolution goes on to state, "Resolved by the House of Representatives ... That Congress recognizes that the United States lost the beautiful light of Wadee Alfayoumi because of hate" and that "The United States has zero tolerance for hate crimes, Islamophobia, antisemitism, and anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab discrimination."

According to court records, a jury trial for Joseph Czuba, accused in Wadee's killing, is scheduled to start Feb. 24, 2025.

Related coverage:

• Father Of Slain Boy Sues Plainfield Landlord For Wrongful Death
• Plainfield Mom Speaks Out After Stabbing, Son's Death: 'She Harbors No Hatred'
• Joseph Czuba Trial: What's Next In Plainfield Hate Crime, Murder Case
• 'Sickened': Biden, Pritzker React To Hate Crime Slaying Of 6-Year-Old
• Muslim Community Responds To Plainfield Township 6-Year-Old's Killing