hate crimes

The Justice Department's third-in-command talked about the department's pledge to fight hate crimes, and shared he was close in age to Matthew Shepard, whose death inspired a federal law helping to prosecute people fueled by hate.

The arrests of the three middle schoolers came last month. Experts say young kids are increasingly exposed to hate ideologies, leaving communities to figure out how to respond.

It was the United States' first federal trial over an alleged hate crime based on gender identity. There have been hate crime prosecutions based on gender identity before, but none had reached trial.

Joseph Czuba, 71, is charged in the fatal stabbing of 6-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume and the wounding of his mother Hanaan Shahin on Oct. 14.

There was less reported violent crime across the U.S. last year after a dramatic spike in 2020. But there were more car thefts and hate crimes reported.

Authorities have charged Joseph M. Czuba with murder, hate crimes and other charges. One Muslim leader said the stabbing was an attack "on all of us."

The 71-year-old man accused in the fatal stabbing of the 6-year-old boy in Illinois, which also seriously wounded his mother, was motivated by the Israel-Hamas war, officials say.

At an evening vigil near the Dollar General store where the attack occurred, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was met with boos from the crowd as he stepped to the microphone.

Brandon Killian, a 32-year-old from Midwest City, will serve six years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release and pay $43,000 for his role in a Shawnee hate crime.

Devan Wayne Johnson, a 28-year-old man from Oklahoma City, will serve 120 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and pay over $68,000 to his victim for his role in a Shawnee hate crime.