A tragic incident has claimed the life of a 6-year-old American boy of Palestinian descent in Chicago.
A 71-Year-Old Man Allegedly Stabbed a 6-Year-Old Boy, Wadea Al-Fayoume, to Death in a Hate Crime Related to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.
President Biden condemned the attack on the boy and his mother, calling it a ‘heinous crime.
The 71-Year-Old Suspect has been Apprehended and Charged with Hate Crime for Fatally Stabbing a Six-Year-Old Boy and Injuring His Mother in Chicago.
The suspect allegedly targeted the victims due to their faith and in response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to reports.
In a statement released on Sunday, October 15, the Will County Sheriff’s Office announced the development.
The statement reads:
“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.”
Police found the victims at a home approximately 40 miles southwest of Chicago on Saturday morning.
President Biden reacts
President Joe Biden extended his condolence to the deceased boy’s family in a social media post via X.
President Biden condemned the hate-fueled incident and urged Americans to come together and stop similar tragedies from happening.
Biden wrote:
“Jill and I were sickened to learn of the brutal murder of a child and the attempted murder of the child’s mother yesterday in Illinois. Our condolences and prayers are with the family.
“This act of hate against a Palestinian Muslim family has no place in America.
“As Americans, we must come together and reject Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry and hatred. I have said repeatedly that I will not be silent in the face of hate.
“We must be unequivocal.”
https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1713757676889309524?t=enWfHn5kLiCZWb97pYxU6Q&s=19
The six-year-old victim, Wadea Al-Fayoume, who recently celebrated his birthday, succumbed to his injuries.
A post-mortem examination by the Will County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the victim had been stabbed 26 times. And the object used in stabbing the victim was a military-styled knife.
The victim’s mother, Hanaan Shahin, sustained over a dozen stab wounds and was hospitalized in stable condition on Sunday.
Police found the suspect, whose name has not been released, at the scene with a head injury and took him into custody.
The suspect has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and hate crimes, and is awaiting a court appearance.
