An arrest was made on Sunday, January 21, 2024, in Tinley Park, Illinois, where a 63-year-old man allegedly murdered his wife and three adult daughters.
Maher Kassem is accused of shooting his wife, Majeda Kassem, 53, and their three daughters – Halema, 25, Zahia, 25, and Hanan, 24, amid a domestic dispute.
The Tinley Park police were alerted to the incident when Maher Kassem himself placed the call to 911, reporting the shooting.
Police officers arrived at the Kassem family residence on the 7400 block of West 173rd Street around 11:20 a.m. Upon arrival, they discovered the victims, each having suffered multiple gunshot wounds, dead at the scene.
Maher Kassem was apprehended without incident, and a firearm, thought to be the weapon used in the shooting, was found at the home.
Kassem has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder. The police have not yet revealed detailed information about the motive or the circumstances leading to the shooting, only stating that it took place during a dispute.
The couple’s 19-year-old son was also present in the home during the shooting but was unharmed.
The victims are remembered warmly by those who knew them. Halema Kassem, an outstanding student at Chicago State University’s pharmacy school, and her twin sister Zahia were known for their high ambitions and intelligence.
Their younger sister, Hanan, and their mother, Majeda, were well-respected community members.
Charlotte Vaitkus, a neighbor, praised their intelligence and ambition. She reminisced about her daughter’s interactions with the family.
Tinley Park Police Department’s Police Chief, Thomas Tilton, highlighted the ongoing nature of the investigation and the complexity of the case.
This incident is one of the most severe in Tinley Park since the 2008 Lane Bryant shootings.
