Michigan stabbing suspect linked to Virginia, Ohio attacks
- Twenty stabbings in Michigan, Virginia and Ohio are linked, authorities say
- Officials believe the same man committed the attacks
- The suspect is described as a white man in a baseball cap with a stud earring in his left ear
- Five people died in the attacks in Michigan
(CNN) -- A Michigan prosecutor said Tuesday that stabbing attacks in his state that killed five people are linked to similar attacks in Virginia and Ohio.
So far, authorities have reported a total of 20 such attacks in the three states. Genesee County, Michigan, prosecutor David Leyton said on CNN's "American Morning" that the victims' description of the attacker and his car are similar.
"We think we have the same perpetrator," he said.
Leyton said police believe the man is responsible for three recent attacks in Leesburg, Virginia, the stabbing deaths of five people and injuries to 11 others in the Flint, Michigan, area and a stabbing Saturday that injured one man in Toledo, Ohio.
Fourteen of the 16 victims in Michigan were African-American, he said, but Flint is also a majority African-American community. In majority white Leesburg, Virginia, two victims were black and one was Hispanic.
"We don't know what's in the mind of the assailant. We know he's an evil guy, but we do not know enough to make the leap that this is racially motivated," Leyton said. "We'll catch him."
The Michigan attacks began May 24, with the most recent taking place August 2.
The three attacks in Virginia occurred on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of last week.
Leyton said police do not know if the suspect is in Michigan. Anyone with information should call Michigan police at 866-246-9500. Leesburg police told CNN they have established a $5,000 reward for anyone providing information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.
The suspect is described by Michigan authorities as a white man in his late 20s to early 30s. He is driving a Chevy Blazer or GMC Jimmy, model years 1995-2005, with a two-tone green top over a beige or gold bottom. Virginia authorities provided a similar description: an older model 1995-2000 Chevy S-10 Blazer with a dark green upper and a lighter tan or beige color on the lower panels.
The suspect is described as a stocky, unshaven white man usually wearing a baseball cap with a stud earring in his left ear.
Michigan stabbing suspect linked to Virginia, Ohio attacks - CNN.com
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