Illinois man pleads not guilty to hate crime murder of 6-year-old Muslim boy

An Illinois man pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder and hate crime in the fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Muslim boy and the stabbing of his mother. The suspect allegedly targeted the victims due to their Muslim identity and the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. The incident has prompted a federal hate crimes investigation. Authorities found the victims with multiple stab wounds, and while the mother survived, the boy succumbed to his injuries. This tragedy highlights the increased reports of threats against Muslim, Jewish, and Arab communities amid the Israel-Hamas war.