In a harrowing domestic-related incident, a father of five has been arrested for the fatal shooting of his wife and three adult daughters inside their Tinley Park residence on Sunday morning. The tragedy unfolded just before 11:30 a.m., marking the deadliest incident in Tinley Park in nearly two decades.
The victims have been identified as 59-year-old Majeda Kassem and her adult daughters – 25-year-old Halema Kassem, 25-year-old Zahia Kassem, and 24-year-old Hanan Kassem. Police responded to the scene at 173rd Street, discovering the lifeless bodies of the four women.
The alleged perpetrator, a man believed to be the husband and father of the victims, was apprehended at the scene. The law enforcement officers also recovered a firearm on the premises, adding a chilling dimension to the horrific incident.
A distress call to 911 reporting a mass slaughter had been made by a male inside the home, further describing the scene as a “massacre.” The caller, assumed to be the suspect, mentioned that his wife had been shot. However, the call abruptly ended, and the individual was uncooperative thereafter.
Neighbors, shocked by the gruesome crime, revealed their familiarity with the family, which consisted of the husband, wife, three adult daughters, and two grown sons. A neighbor described the family and the alleged assailant as having a promising future, highlighting the unexpected nature of the tragedy.
Charlotte Vaitkus, in a conversation with ABC 7, shared that her daughter knew the family and had connections with their oldest son. Vaitkus, who employed the twin sisters, praised their intelligence and ambitious goals, portraying the family as one with bright prospects.
According to Village Manager Patt Carr, there were no prior law enforcement calls to the home. Carr assured the public that the situation was confined to the residence and secure, with only one suspect in custody. The incident adds to a growing list of domestic violence cases in the United States, emphasizing the urgency of addressing such issues.
As per statistics from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in four women and one in nine men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence, and/or stalking with far-reaching impacts. The organization reports alarming figures, with nearly 20 people per minute being physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States, translating to over 10 million abuse victims annually. The tragic events in Tinley Park serve as a stark reminder of the pressing need to address and prevent domestic violence within communities nationwide.
