The father of five accused of fatally shooting his wife and three daughters at their Chicago-area home had argued about money — then told police his wife was a “money-hungry bitch” who “pushed” him into the massacre, according to prosecutors.
Maher Kassem, 63, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder for the Sunday morning deaths of wife Majeda, 53, and daughters Halema, 25, Zahia, 25, and Hanan, 24, at their home in upscale Tinley Park.
His wife was shot seven times and each daughter twice – in part watched by one of the accused’s surviving sons, his first court hearing was told Tuesday.
“They are all gone,” he admitted when the police arrived. “I’m going to jail.”
Kassem recently retired and told responding police that “his wife was worried about the money and where she could take it,” Assistant State’s Attorney Scott Clark told the court.
“I worked my whole life to give my family a better home and they treated me like s–t,” she was heard complaining to police on body camera footage, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Maher Kassem, 63, allegedly shot his wife and three daughters in the basement of his Tinley Park home on Sunday during an argument over finances. WLS
He also complained that his wife “treated me like an af-ing dog,” Clark told the hearing.
“Bury me and take the money,” Kassem said, describing his recently murdered wife as a “money-hungry bitch” who “pushed me to do it.”
Clark said Kassem was arguing with one of his daughters in the basement while his 19-year-old son was sleeping.
The boy allegedly heard his father go upstairs and downstairs more than once as two other sisters and his mother tried to keep him quiet, Clark said.
Eventually, the argument turned into a shouting match — and the son heard gunshots, prosecutors allege.
At that moment, the unknown son entered the basement and saw his mother lying on the floor.
He wasn’t sure if he had been shot, Clark claimed, but the teenager later saw one of his younger sisters with a gunshot wound and saw his father allegedly shoot his mother twice more before stepping over to shoot his other sister.
Kassem’s 19-year-old son was reportedly sleeping upstairs when he heard his father fighting with his sister and mother. CBS
Following the incident, prosecutors said Kassem called police himself around 11:21 a.m. to report that his wife had been shot, but did not provide further details.
When officers arrived, Clark said they asked him where the victim was and he pointed to the basement.
“They’re gone,” he allegedly said. “Everything is fine.”
Police then asked Kassem if anyone else had been shot, and he replied that there were four victims, Clark said.
“I’m going to jail,” the accused killer allegedly told police.
At that point, Clark said, the officer asked him if “that’s him,” to which he nodded.
“I am alone. I am alone,” he told the police. “They’re all gone.”
Neighbors described the news of the shooting as “shocking,” saying the victim and alleged killer were “such a good family with a bright future.” CBS
He also allegedly ordered his officers to use a revolver near the pillow with four bullet casings and two live bullets, as well as a 9mm pistol. Officers later found 13 spent 9mm shell casings in the basement.
Kassem has a valid firearm ownership identification card and no prior criminal history, authorities said.
A neighbor who knew the family – which included another son – said the news of the gruesome crime was “shocking” to wake up to on Sunday morning, given that the victim and alleged killer were “such a good family with a bright future.”
“My daughter knows them,” Charlotte Vaitkus told ABC 7 Chicago. “He went to school with the eldest son, and he employed the twins. He always talked about how they were all very smart, and they had very high goals in life.
Others described Kassem as a helpful man who cleared the sidewalks on the street after the latest snowstorm.
The mayor of Tinley Park has since called the shooting a “senseless act of tragedy” and “a stark reminder of how quickly domestic violence can escalate.” AP
“I’ve known the guy for 30 years, I would never have expected something like this,” Frank Muchna told the Sun-Times.
The suspect’s nephew also said his family was shocked by the crime his uncle allegedly committed against a family he saw as caring.
Before Sunday, the nephew said his uncle would do anything for his family, he told CBS News.
But another neighbor said he sometimes spoke to the daughter, whom he described as independent and ambitious – which sometimes caused conflict with their father.
The neighbor told the Sun-Times how one of the girls complained that she wanted to learn to drive, but her father didn’t want her to.
The mayor of Tinley Park has since called the shooting a “senseless act of tragedy” and “a stark reminder of how quickly domestic violence can escalate.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
