Teen again denied release in fatal stabbing of Sycamore classmate Kaleb McCall

SYCAMORE – A former Sycamore teenager will remain held without release pending trial on first-degree murder charges as an adult in the stabbing death of classmate Kaleb D. McCall, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Hamza Khatatbeh, 16, is charged with first-degree murder, armed violence and aggravated battery in the Sept. 7, 2023, fatal stabbing of his Sycamore High School peer. McCall, who had just entered his senior year, died from a single stab wound to the chest, authorities have said.

Associate Judge Stephanie Klein, who is presiding over the case after Khatatbeh’s defense lawyer, Jim Ryan, successfully appealed for a judge change, denied Ryan’s request for his client’s release.

In her ruling, Klein said Khatatbeh’s release would pose a risk to the public and wouldn’t prevent him from accessing weapons such as knives, which she said was used to stab McCall. She said a GPS-monitoring device also would be insufficient.

“The court notes that electronic home monitoring is not real-time monitoring and that it is unfortunately not all that difficult for individuals to cut off their electronic monitoring devices,” Klein said Tuesday.

Throughout the hearing, Khatatbeh, who attended virtually from the River Valley Juvenile Justice Center in Joliet, appeared alert and responsive. Almost a dozen of McCall’s loved ones, including his parents, sat together to watch the proceedings in Klein’s courtroom.

Shaw Local News Network has identified the teenager since his adult court details are accessible in public DeKalb County court records. If convicted of the Class M felony, Khatatbeh faces at least 20 years in prison.

The judge said records shared with court officials from the River Valley Juvenile Justice Center, where Khatatbeh has been held since his September 2023 arrest, show that he has attacked fellow center residents at least four times and verbally threatened another since he arrived. Her statements echoed what Circuit Court Judge Joseph Pedersen said in his October ruling, which ordered Khatatbeh’s case to be moved out of juvenile court into adult court.

Klein said special prosecutor Derek Dion argued that the teenagers had not met each other before the stabbing in downtown Sycamore.

Police have said the stabbing was precluded by an argument between two groups of teenagers. McCall had come from the Culver’s in Sycamore, where he worked with his grandmother, prosecutors said. Khatatbeh allegedly used a 6-inch knife, which as of Tuesday has not been recovered by police, Klein said.

Since the DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office brought adult charges against Khatatbeh this month, prosecutors have sought to keep the teenager detained under the SAFE-T Act. Khatatbeh’s defense tried to get the teen released, not for the first time.

Klein said Dion argued that Khatatbeh was accused of stabbing someone he’s never met in a public place with unjustified deadly force. Ryan argued that his client felt threatened by McCall and two teenage girls and had acted in self-defense. McCall was not armed when he was stabbed, prosecutors have said.

Ryan told the judge that he intends to file a request to have Khatatbeh’s adult court records sealed and prevent further public release, saying that his client is a minor. Ryan pointed to media coverage that has since published Khatatbeh’s name, citing public court records.

“I also am unaware of any authority this court would have to treat this defendant differently from any other defendant charged with a [criminal felony] case,” Klein said. “But if there’s a motion, I am sure that the legal authority will be provided and looked into.”

Khatatbeh’s is next due in court at 11 a.m. Feb. 5. Dion said prosecutors hope to have an indictment by then.