Murder, new assault charges in serial stabbings

9/20/2010

FLINT, Mich. — A Michigan prosecutor has announced a murder charge and four new assault charges against a man suspected in a series of stabbings in the Flint area and two other states.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said Monday that Elias Abuelazam is charged with open murder in the Aug. 2 killing of Arnold Minor in Flint. If convicted, Abuelazam faces life in prison with no chance of parole.

Leyton also says he's bringing assault with intent to murder charges in four more attacks. Five men in the Flint area were killed and nine others were injured in a series of stabbings between May and August.

The 33-year-old Abuelazam already had been charged in one attempted murder case and is jailed.

Abuelazam also is suspected in attacks in Virginia and Ohio.