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Three similar stabbings were reported in Leesburg last week, some 550 miles from Flint. Authorities in Virginia say they believe race was a factor in those cases.
"For our community, Leesburg, when you look at our demographics and you look at the victims here. My belief here is he selected the victims in Leesburg based upon the color of their skin," Police Chief Joseph Price said.
Leesburg authorities say they are confident that Abuelazam is responsible for stabbing attacks there. They're now looking to see if he could be connected to a 2009 killing.
Price said the department can pinpoint Abuelazam in the northern Virginia area at the time of the attacks from last week. He also said that the suspect's vehicle can be placed in Virginia at the same time.
There were at least three stabbing attacks reported to Leesburg police last week. Police say they believe that Abuelazam was targeting African-American men.
Investigators are now checking to see if he is connected to the March 2009 murder of Jammie Lane. According to a newspaper in Virginal, Lane, an African-American man in his 40s, was found lying on his living room floor with a wound to his abdominal area.
Police have not said that Abuelazam is responsible for that crime, but with these recent attacks, Price said they are not ruling him out. "I can assure the media and the press that we are going to explore all possible connections and that case remains a very active case and is under constant investigation.
We're not closing the book on anything. We'll also tell you in coordination with the FBI we've sent notices out to other areas of the country to look at any potential crimes that may match this person's MO."
Price said no one from his team has had a chance to speak with the suspect, but he does have people in Atlanta where Abuelazam is being held.
