A man was arrested in the Atlanta airport who’s believed to have killed five but stabbed 20. He tried getting on a flight going to Tel Aviv, Israel. Elias Abuelazam came to the U.S. legally but is an Israeli citizen. The 20 incidents showed up as follows: 1 in Ohio, 3 in Virginia and 16 in Michigan. African American is the race that was believed to be targeted in these crimes as a majority of the victims were from that race.
Attacks began in May
May was when reports of a man coming up and asking for help with a vehicle or getting directions started coming in, and the man fit Elias Abuelazam’s description. 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 started 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 the majority of the victims were male African Americans. Since 16 of these victims were stabbed in Flint, Michigan, that is where the police did most of their research. In Leesburg, Virginia, another three happened while Toledo, Ohio only had one. A judge in Flint issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with a stabbing on July 27. A tip in Michigan led police to Atlanta International Airport, where he was boarding a flight for Tel Aviv, Israel. A page for him was issued over the intercom, and police took him into custody without incident.
No conviction yet
He is only a suspect right now although there is plenty of evidence suggesting otherwise. He won’t be sentenced to death considering Michigan, where five deaths happened, isn’t a death penalty state, and that is where he is being convicted.
ABC News
abcnews.go.com/US/TheLaw/serial-stabber-suspect-identified-elias-abuelazam-federal-officals/story?id=11382102 and amp;page=1
