A 63-year-old man from Tinley Park, Illinois, was arrested on Sunday, January 21, 2024, after allegedly killing his wife and three adult daughters.

Maher Kassem allegedly shot and killed his wife, Majeda Kassem, 53, and their three adult daughters, Halema, 25, Zahia, 25, and Hanan, 24 during a domestic dispute. 

The incident was first brought to the attention of the Tinley Park police when Maher Kassem himself called 911 to report the shooting. 

Responding officers arrived at the family’s home in the 7400 block of West 173rd Street around 11:20 a.m. to find the victims, each having sustained multiple gunshot wounds, dead at the scene. 

Maher Kassem was taken into custody without incident, and a firearm, believed to be the weapon used in the shooting, was recovered from the home.

He now faces four counts of first-degree murder. While the police have not disclosed specific details about the motive or the circumstances leading to the shooting, it was reported that the incident occurred during an argument. 

The couple’s 19-year-old son was present in the home at the time of the shooting but was not injured. 

The victims are remembered fondly by those who knew them. Halema Kassem, a standout student at Chicago State University’s pharmacy school, and her twin sister Zahia were recognized for their high aspirations and intelligence. 

Their younger sister, Hanan, and their mother, Majeda, were highly regarded in the community. 

A neighbor, Charlotte Vaitkus, acknowledged their intelligence and high goals in life. She recalled her daughter’s connections with the family.

Police Chief Thomas Tilton of the Tinley Park Police Department has emphasized the investigation’s ongoing nature and the case’s complexity. 

The incident marks one of the worst in Tinley Park since the 2008 Lane Bryant shootings.