FLINT – Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton today announced a new assault charge against Elias Abuelazam, 34, related to a stabbing in the City of Burton this past summer.
Abuelazam is charged with one count of Assault with Intent to Murder for the July 12 stabbing of Antoine Jackson of Saginaw who had previously lived in Grand Blanc Township. The felony charge carries a maximum penalty of up to life in prison. There will be a pre-trial conference scheduled for Wednesday in 67th District Court at 2 p.m. for the charge. A preliminary exam for this charge will be determined Wednesday. It will take place at 9 a.m. Dec. 3. Abuelazam will not be present at Wednesday's pre-trial.
According to the police investigation, witnesses spotted Jackson rolling around in the grass after 1 a.m. near Saginaw Street and Jolson Avenue in Burton. Police and paramedics who were dispatched to the scene discovered Jackson severely injured with multiple stab wounds.
Abuelazam is suspected of a series of knife stabbings in Flint and surrounding communities this past summer that left a total of five men dead and nine others seriously injured. He is also a suspect in similar stabbings in Virginia and Ohio that left four others wounded.
Abuelazam is being held in the Genesee County jail with no bond. In total, Prosecutor Leyton has charged him with three murders and six assault with intent to murder charges, one count of malicious destruction of property, and two counts of resisting and obstructing an officer causing injury and three counts of resisting and obstructing an officer.
The next court date at which Abuelazam will be present in the courtroom is Dec. 3. This will be the continuation of the preliminary exam in 67th District Court that was begun on Nov. 12 related to the July 30 murder of Frank Kellybrew in Flint Township. 67th District Court Judge John Conover should resume the exam at 1 p.m. in the Circuit Courtroom of Judge Neithercut -- you may recall from past notices that the Genesee County District Court building was severely damaged by a flood over Labor Day and so District Court matters have been held at various locations including the Genesee County Circuit Courthouse.
