Cops say a six-year-old boy was stabbed to death in an anti-Muslim attack provoked by the on-going conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Landlord Joseph Czuba, 71, has been charged with murder and hate crimes after he allegedly stabbed the boy and a 32-year-old woman in the town of Plainfield, Illinois. The Sherrif’s office says Czuba was found sitting on a driveway with a cut to his forehead on October 14 after a woman reported being attacked by her landlord.
He was taken to hospital for treatment. Police then discovered two people with stab wounds to their chest, torso, and upper extremities.
The woman was in a serious condition and had “over a dozen” stab wounds to her body. Officers believe she is likely to survive her injuries.
The boy however, died on Sunday after being stabbed 26 times with a 12-inch military knife. A forensic pathologist removed the instrument from the boy’s chest.
A Will County Sheriff’s Office spokesman said: “Joseph Czuba did not make any statements to detectives regarding his involvement in this heinous attack. Despite the suspect not providing a statement to detectives, personnel were able to gather enough information through interviews and evidence to formally charge Joseph Czuba with numerous criminal offenses.
“Joseph Czuba was charged with First Degree Murder, Attempted First Degree Murder, Hate Crime (2 counts), and Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon. Detectives were able to determine that both victims in this brutal attack were targeted by the suspect due to them being Muslim and the on-going Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis.”
Czuba was transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility and is awaiting his initial court appearance.
