Individual enters a plea of innocence in the case of the killing of a young Muslim boy in the United States

A 71-year-old man named Joseph Czuba has pleaded not guilty to murder and hate crimes charges for allegedly killing a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy, Wadea Al-Fayoume, and seriously injuring his mother. Prosecutors claim that Czuba specifically targeted the mother and son, who were his tenants, due to their religion and the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Along with murder charges, Czuba is also facing attempted murder and aggravated battery charges. During his court hearing, he only spoke briefly to acknowledge the court. If convicted of murder, Czuba could be sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. The judge ordered him to remain in jail until the next hearing in January and instructed him not to have any contact with Wadea's mother, Hanan Shahin. According to court documents that cite an interview with Czuba's wife, he regularly listened to conservative talk radio and was concerned about a rumored "National Day of Jihad" on October 13. He also feared potential events in the United States, including a power grid failure, withdrawing $1,000 from his bank account. On October 14, Czuba confronted Hanan Shahin and attacked her and her son with a large military-style knife after expressing anger about the events occurring in the Middle East. The mother and son had lived in Czuba's house for two years, and family members stated that there were no prior signs of conflict between Czuba and the victims. Wadea's uncle and family spokesman, Yousef Hannon, mentioned that Czuba had even bought the child a gift for his sixth birthday a few weeks before. Hanan Shahin is currently recovering from her injuries and is expected to survive. President Joe Biden referenced this tragic incident during a speech on the Middle East conflict, emphasizing the need to address such violence. Wadea's father and other family members were present at the hearing but declined to comment to reporters outside the courtroom.