Bronzeville man allegedly said he ‘snapped’ before stabbing wife, three children

A Bronzeville man told police he “snapped” when he allegedly attacked his wife and stabbed her three children after they argued about his drum playing, Cook County prosecutors said Monday.

One of the victims, age 6, is Kalemate Muhammad’s biological child, prosecutors said. That child and the other two minor victims remained hospitalized at Comer Children’s Hospital following the attack over the weekend, in the 4400 block of South Wabash Avenue, prosecutors said.

Muhammad’s 13-year-old stepchild suffered internal bleeding and a collapsed lung after Muhammad stabbed that child and his 17-year-old stepchild in the diaphragm and back, prosecutors said. Muhammad’s 6-year-old, who was stabbed in the flank, has a lacerated kidney and spleen.

Muhammad’s wife suffered cuts to her hands and needed stitches, prosecutors said.

Muhammad, who had indulged in wine and weed Saturday night, went to his room and began packing his belongings after the victims argued with him about his drums, prosecutors said.

The 59-year-old then verbally threatened his wife before he allegedly pulled out a knife from under his robe and began chasing her. The couple ran around the kitchen table as Muhammad repeatedly swung the knife at his spouse, prosecutors said.

The woman tried to use a chair to defend herself, but fell to the ground. She then grabbed the blade of the knife and pulled it away from Muhammad, who then allegedly seized a butcher’s knife. Again, the woman was able to stop Muhammad from stabbing her by grabbing the blade of the butcher’s knife, prosecutors said.

The woman was able to run outside. But then she heard her children screaming from inside the home, prosecutors said.

Muhammad had allegedly stabbed the three children before they were able to escape and join their mother outside, prosecutors said.

Muhammad allegedly went on to threaten his wife’s life. When she pleaded with him to not harm their 4-year-old child who remained inside the home, Muhammad smiled and shut the door, prosecutors said.

The victims ended up going to a neighbor’s home and called police, who ultimately arrested Muhammad.

The 4-year-old was not harmed.

Muhammad has four prior domestic battery arrests, prosecutors said. He was also arrested in 2010 after his wife called police, saying she was afraid to return home with her children after he told her “she would end up in a dumpster and nobody would know about it,” prosecutors said.

Muhammad was ordered held without bail Monday for attempted murder, aggravated battery, child endangerment and damage to property charges.

He is expected back in court March 2.