Majeda Kassem: Mother of five, 3 daughters shot dead at Illinois home, father in custody

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

ILLINOIS, TINLEY: In a tragic domestic violence incident at a suburban Illinois residence, a mother of five, and her three daughters, which included twin sisters and a younger sister, were shot dead. 

The victim woman also has two sons who were not harmed. 

As reported by ABC News, the victims have been identified as 53-year-old Majeda Kassem, her twin daughters, 25-year-old Halema Kassem and Zahia Kassem, and her 24-year-old daughter Hanan Kassem. 

The incident took place in their Tinley Park home. In the aftermath of the domestic violence, police conducted interviews with the father, Maher Kassem, though formal charges have not yet been filed.

Police report to crime scene

In response to a 911 call placed by Maher at their Tinley Park residence around 11.30 am on Sunday, January 21, officers from the public safety department discovered the lifeless bodies of the women. Tinley Park is a village about 30 miles southwest of Chicago.

While initially reporting that his wife had been shot, Maher did not immediately admit culpability. 

Notably, the motive behind the incident remains unclear. Authorities state that there had been no previous calls to the house, and neighbors expressed shock and disbelief at the tragic quadruple murder.

The "four innocent women", who all lived in the home, were killed in a "senseless" act of domestic violence, Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz said.

What did neighbors claim amid domestic violence?

During the investigation, details about the victims emerged. Halema Kassem, one of the twin sisters, pursued a pharmacy degree while simultaneously operating a henna business promoted on social media. 

The other twin, Zahia, was a radiology student known among friends for her outspoken and light-hearted nature. According to friends, the family were devout Muslims and Palestinian activists. 

A fundraising site dedicated to completing a mosque in Mali in the family's memory suggested that Majeda, their mother, dedicated her life to family and religion. The younger sister, Hanan, was a speech pathology student.

 As reported by the Daily Mail, Hanan was a constant source of support, known for her thoughtful and considerate nature. Her kindness extended to her family, and she will be deeply missed.

A neighbor Charlotte Vaitkus, “My daughter knows them. She went to school with the oldest son, and she employed the twin sisters. She always talked about how they were all very intelligent, and they had very high goals in life," as per New Post.