ATLANTA — The suspect in a three-state stabbing spree that left five people dead and 13 others wounded agreed Friday to return to Michigan to face charges in one of the attacks.
Elias Abuelazam, 33, was arrested Wednesday night in Atlanta before a flight to Israel, his native country, and charged with attempted murder in a July 27 knife attack in Flint that put the victim in a hospital for a week. Authorities said more charges were expected in Michigan, Ohio and Virginia.
Abuelazam, wearing a blue prison outfit, was expressionless as he responded to questions from Judge Richard Hicks during a brief hearing in Atlanta court Friday morning.
Abuelazam first told Hicks he wanted to stay in Georgia and face the charges, but Hicks told him he would have to return to Michigan if he wanted to fight them.
After Hicks explained the process further, Abuelazam agreed to waive an extradition fight, a process that could take months, and go back to Michigan. The Associated Press
