At an Atlanta airport, a man suspected of five deaths with 20 stabbings was arrested. Tel Aviv, Israel is where the man was headed on a flight. As an Israeli citizen, Elias Abuelazam came to the U.S. legally. The 20 incidents showed up as follows: 1 in Ohio, 3 in Virginia and 16 in Michigan. The majority of the victims were African American, and it is thought that race was a factor within the crimes.
May attacks
A man described looking like Elias Abuelazam started approaching individuals and asked for directions or getting help with a broken down vehicle beginning in May. The man would pull a knife, stab the victims and leave them for dead. ABC reports that police thought Elias Abuelazam was the stabber considering he was arrested for simple assault just lately. To identify the killer, law officials from Michigan, Virginia and Ohio all working together with the public to get an ID.
Race a part of the killings
The crimes are thought to be motivated by race considering many of the victims were male African Americans. The police focused their search on Flint, Mich., where 16 of the 20 incidents occurred. Three other stabbings took place in Leesburg, Va., and one took place in Toledo, Ohio. A judge in Flint issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with a stabbing on July 27. A tip was given to Michigan police where they found him boarding a flight to Tel Aviv, Israel at the Atlanta International Airport. The intercom used a page to get police’s attention, and he was taken into custody.
Still no conviction
Right now, he is innocent as he hasn’t been seen in court yet, although it is quite clear that he is likely to be the perpetrator. He is being convicted where the five deaths happened, which is Michigan, and won’t be given the death penalty since Michigan isn’t really a death penalty state.
Discover more details on this subject
ABC News
abcnews.go.com/US/TheLaw/serial-stabber-suspect-identified-elias-abuelazam-federal-officals/story?id=11382102 and amp;page=1
