Father charged with first-degree murder in shooting deaths of wife, 3 daughters in suburban Chicago
TINLEY PARK, Ill. (CBS) -- A father has been charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of his three daughters and wife inside a home in Tinley Park on Sunday.
Maher Kassem, 63, was charged Tuesday with four counts of first-degree murder, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. At his initial court appearance, prosecutors said an argument led to Kassem using two guns first to shoot his wife and then, after stepping over her body, his three daughters.
The victims were identified as Majeda Kassem, 53; twins Halema Kassem, 25; and Hanan Kassem, 25; and Zahia Kassem, 24.
Officials said Kassem shot his wife, Majeda, seven times, and each daughter was shot twice. The Kassems' 19-year-old son was in the home but was not physically injured. The women's bodies were found in the basement.
Authorities also said Kassem was cooperative with police and admitted to the shooting. Kassem indicated the fight started over the family's finances.
Prosecutors said the shooting took place after an argument on Sunday morning between the father and one of his daughters. That prompted his wife and two other daughters to get involved and urge him to calm down.
CBS 2 first reported Monday that there was a witness to the crime. That witness was identified in court as Maher Kassem's 19-year-old son.
Amid all the yelling, the son – who was sleeping then – woke up and went to see what was going on. He would later hear gunshots and first found his mother and two of his sisters fatally shot. He walked in moments before his father shot the third daughter.
Police said the father never turned the gun toward his son.
Around 11:20 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a report of the shooting in the 7400 block of West 173rd Street.
Village Manager Pat Carr said a male - who police later said was Kassem - made a 911 call saying someone was shot in the residence, and and police found his wife and three daughters dead at the scene. Police recovered two guns at the scene.
When police asked Kassem where his family was, prosecutors said, "The defendant pointed in the direction of the basement. The officer asked the defendant who else was there, and the defendant stated, 'They're gone.'"
Prosecutors said Kassem appeared to be disgruntled over how he was treated at home.
"The defendant was recorded volunteering things about having just retired, and that 'She treats me like a [expletive] dog," said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Scott Clark. "'I worked 40 years.' and 'I worked all my life to give my family a better home, and they treat me like [expletive].'"
Police said there had been no record of police interaction at the home.
Meanwhile, hundreds of mourners gathered at the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview for a prayer in honor of the four women who were killed in what police called a senseless act of domestic violence, something they hope is addressed more in the community.
"It's about not only mental illness but control and abuse," said Fida Zoubeidi, who attended the prayer service. "We need to keep our eyes open."
Funeral services for the women were held Tuesday night. Mourners gathered one by one for a vigil – hours after the mother and three adult sisters were buried.
Hanan Kassem had recently graduated from St. Xavier University with a master's degree in speech therapy.
"I would say that she lit up a room - you know, like you could talk to her about anything," said classmate Corinna Olsen.
Olsen wished she could talk to her friend one more time. Instead, she and so many are puzzled by the circumstances of the quadruple murder.
"Very, very shocking," said Olsen. "You know, expect this to happen to someone you know."
Off camera, the nephew of Maher Kassem said the family is torn – shocked at the crime his uncle is accused of committing against a family for which he seemed to care so deeply.
The nephew added that the family does not know the man prosecutors portray as having committed such a crime. He said before Sunday, his uncle would have done anything for his family.
Kassem will be due back in court on Feb. 16.