By Jim Newell
Managing Editor
jnewell@mihomepaper.com
ORION TWP. — A 34-year-old Dearborn Heights man is charged with attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed another man multiple times outside of an Orion Township home on Jan. 22.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald charged Gul Nabi Rahmati with two felonies, including assault with intent to murder, for a stabbing attack on Zubair Mansuori, 35.
Rahmati reportedly arrived at Mansuori’s Orion Township home and the two met outside. Rahmati then allegedly stabbed Mansuori multiple times before attempting to attack another man who came to Mansuori’s aid, McDonald said.
Rahmati fled from the scene, turning himself into the Dearborn Heights Police Department later in the day. Both men are Afghan nationals and reside legally in the United States. Mansuori is a caseworker for the nonprofit Samaritas and Rahmati was one of his clients, McDonald said.
“Zubair Mansuori is the victim of a heinous and seemingly unprovoked attack,” said McDonald. “I am committed to bringing his alleged attacker to justice.”
Rahmati is charged with assault with intent to murder, which is punishable by up to life in prison, and assault with a dangerous weapon, which is punishable by up to four years in prison. He was arraigned and given a $350,000 bond. He remains incarcerated at the Oakland County Jail.
Rahmati is scheduled for a probable cause conference on Feb. 4 at the Oakland County 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills, according to online court records.
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said on Thursday the stabbing may have involved “some kind of religious complaint by the attacker” based on comments he made during the incident. Officials were still working to establish a motive, he said, and Rahmati was declining to speak with investigators.
Deputies and Orion Township firefighters responded to a 911 call on the 3800 block of Redroot Road at 2:05 p.m. Jan. 22 after getting a call that an Orion Township man had been stabbed multiple times, according to an Oakland County Sheriff’s Office incident report.
The caller told authorities that Rahmati stabbed Mansuori while they were standing in the driveway. The caller, who came to Mansuori’s aid, struck Rahmati with a shovel, causing him to flee the scene in his vehicle, the report stated.
Deputies collected statements from multiple witnesses and secured surveillance videos from a neighboring home. Evidence technicians processed evidence.
Orion Township EMS transported Mansuori to the hospital, where he later underwent surgery and was listed in stable condition, the report stated.