Who is Hanaan Shahin, mother of 6-year-old Palestinian boy stabbed to death in Chicago?

A 71-year-old man from suburban Chicago was charged with a hate crime for a horrific act in which he fatally stabbed a 6-year-old boy and seriously injured a 32-year-old woman. According to police, the suspect specifically targeted both victims because of their Islamic faith, and the attack was seen as a response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The tragic incident unfolded in an unincorporated area of Plainfield Township, located approximately 40 miles southwest of Chicago. Officers discovered the victims at a residence late Saturday morning. Tragically, the young boy, identified as Wadea Al-Fayoume, a Palestinian-American who had recently turned 6, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The autopsy revealed that he had been stabbed 26 times with a large military-style knife.

Who is Hanaan Shahin?

The 32-year-old woman, identified as Hanaan Shahin, the boy’s mother, sustained over a dozen stab wounds but was expected to survive.

The suspect was found outside the residence on the ground with a forehead cut and was taken into custody. He faces a litany of charges, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of hate crimes, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations in Chicago (CAIR-Chicago) organized a news conference with a family member to address the incident. They reported that the suspect, who was also their landlord, had shouted “You Muslims must die!” before carrying out the brutal attack. CAIR-Chicago has noted an alarming increase in hate calls and emails since the outbreak of violence in the Middle East, making this crime a distressing manifestation of broader trends.