Tinley Police file murder charges against spouse in the murder of his wife and three daughters

Maher Kassem, 63, of the 7400 block of W. 173^rd Place, Tinley Park, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder after a domestic incident Sunday, Jan. 21 at his home.

Kassem shot and killed his wife Majeda Kassem, 53, and his daughters Halema Kassem, 25; Hanan Kassem, 24; and Zahia Kassem, 25, after a verbal argument that morning. He then called 911 at about 11:20 a.m. to report that someone had been shot inside the home.

Officers responded to the home within minutes and found the four women deceased in a lower level of the home. Officers took Kassem into custody after he made statements related to his involvement in the shooting. Police also recovered the gun believed to be used in the shooting.

“Words can’t describe how deeply saddened I am at this horrible tragedy,” Mayor Michael Glotz said.

Maher Kassem killed wife 3 daughters Tinley Park Jan 22 2024

“A mother and her three daughters are gone, murdered in an act of senseless domestic violence. The entire Tinley Park community is heartbroken at the loss of these four innocent women, and we grieve alongside the family, friends and neighbors who loved them.”

The mother and daughters were Palestinian Arab Muslim.

Kassem will appear in bond court at 1:30 p.m. today at the Fifth Municipal Building, 10220 S. 76th Ave., Bridgeview.

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Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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