Tinley Park, Illinois – A 63-year-old father has been charged with first-degree murder in the tragic shooting death of his three daughters and wife inside their home in Tinley Park. Maher Kassem was charged Tuesday with four counts of first-degree murder, after an argument led to Kassem using two guns to first shoot his wife, Majeda Kassem, seven times, and then his three daughters, twins, Halema and Hanan Kassem, and Zahia Kassem each twice.
The women’s bodies were found in the basement of their home. The victims were identified as Majeda Kassem, 53; twins Halema Kassem, 25, and Hanan Kassem, 24; and Zahia Kassem, 25. Kassem’s teenage son was in the home but was unharmed, and the incident took place after an argument on Sunday morning between the father and one of his daughters.
Kassem was cooperative with police and admitted to the shooting, indicating that the fight started over the family’s finances. The tense situation escalated when the son, who was sleeping at the time, woke up amid the yelling and later heard gunshots. Despite the devastation, the son managed to escape his father’s violence, as he never turned the gun toward his son.
The murders occurred around 11:20 a.m. on Sunday, with police responding to a report of the shooting. A 911 call was made, reporting that someone was shot in the residence, and police found Majeda and her three daughters dead. According to officials, Kassem seemed to be disgruntled over how he was treated at home, volunteering statements about his recent retirement, his family, and how he felt mistreated.
Hundreds of mourners gathered for a vigil at the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview to honor the four women who were killed in what police described as a senseless act of domestic violence. The community hopes to raise awareness and address these issues more openly, emphasizing the importance of recognizing signs of control and abuse.
Funeral services for the women were held Tuesday night, and mourners gathered for a vigil in honor of the four women. Hanan Kassem, one of the victims, had recently graduated from St. Xavier University with a master’s degree in speech therapy, and those who knew her have described her as a radiant and kindhearted individual.
The tragic events have left the community in shock, as friends and family struggle to process the senseless loss of life. The nephew of Maher Kassem, speaking off-camera, expressed deep confusion and disbelief at the accusations against his uncle and emphasized that prior to the incident, his uncle deeply cared for his family and would have done anything for them.
The case is ongoing, and Maher Kassem will be due back in court on February 16. The devastating loss has prompted important conversations about addressing domestic violence and mental health in the community and has left friends, family, and the entire community mourning the lives of the four women lost in this heartbreaking tragedy.