Majeda Kassem of Tinley Park, Cook County, Illinois, United States and her daughters Halema Kassem, Zahia “Zee” Kassem and Hanan Kassem have died. Majeda was 53 and Hanan was 24 while Halema and Zahia, who are twins, were 25.
Halema was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy at Chicago State University in Chicago, Illinois while running a henna business that she promoted on social media. Zee was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in radiology while Hanan had recently graduated from St. Xavier University in Chicago with a master’s degree in speech therapy.
Majeda and her husband Maher Kassem, 63, have three daughters and two sons together. Aside from Tinley Park, he has lived in other parts of Illinois including Chicago and Oak Lawn.
The couple and their children were devout Muslims. They are Palestinians.
At 11:30 a.m. on January 21, 2024, Maher called 911 and reported that his wife had been shot. Tinley Park Police Department officers arrived at his residence and found Majeda, Halema, Hanan and Zee dead in the same room.
Majeda was shot seven times. Halema, Hanan and Zee were each shot twice.
The officers arrested Maher, who admitted to fatally shooting his wife and their three daughters after a fight over the family’s finances. His son, 19, who was sleeping, woke up after hearing gunshots.
Maher has a Firearm Owner’s Identification Act card but no concealed-carry license. He has no criminal background.
On January 23, 2024, Maher appeared in court where the judge found him unstable and a possible threat to the community. He will be detained until he returns to court on February 16, 2024.
CONAN Daily 