Beltline stabbing suspect has lengthy record
A 54-year-old convicted felon with at least 30 previous arrests is in custody following a fatal stabbing Sunday afternoon on the Atlanta Beltline near Kroger, according to police.
ATLANTA – A 54-year-old convicted felon with at least 30 previous arrests is in custody following a fatal stabbing Sunday afternoon on the Atlanta Beltline near Kroger, according to police.
What we know:
Atlanta police officers responded to 725 Ponce De Leon Avenue around 4:01 p.m. Sunday for a reported stabbing.
When they arrived, officers found a 29-year-old man who had been stabbed.
Emergency responders rushed the victim to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Police arrested Johnathan Hamby on the scene, and he is awaiting booking at the Fulton County Jail.
Investigators recovered the knife used in the attack and do not believe Hamby and the victim knew each other.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said the victim and Hamby were in a verbal argument before it escalated into the stabbing.
What they’re saying:
“Mr. Hamby has an extensive criminal history and has been arrested multiple times by law enforcement. And we’re currently showing 30 previous arrest cycles. We’re showing that he is a convicted felon, and we’re showing that he was on active probation for an aggravated assault that occurred in Brookhaven,” said Schierbaum at a press briefing after the incident.
Schierbaum said there is no remaining threat to the surrounding community. He added that 911 calls were crucial to a fast response from police.
Additionally, officers who were patrolling the Beltline nearby were the first to respond to the scene.
Some of Hamby’s previous arrests included charges for battery, aggravated assault, possession of a knife during the commission of a felony, obstruction of law enforcement, and criminal trespass, according to Fulton County Jail records. His arrest history also shows a history of mental health issues.
Crime scene tape blocked off a large section of the Beltline near the Kroger for several hours while investigators processed the area. Visitors and local workers expressed concern following the afternoon of violence.
“I feel like there’s usually a bunch of officers at the Beltline,” said Ewuraba Buckle, who was visiting the Beltline. “I don’t know about inside, but I typically feel safe, so this is pretty concerning honestly.”
Tim Kelly, who works on the Beltline, reflected on the situation: “It shouldn’t have happened, but it’s something that happened here in Atlanta, and it’s not the best.”
Police are looking into whether mental health played a role in the attack. Schierbaum also raised broader questions regarding repeat offenders in the area.
“A convicted felon on probation. Was he an individual that should have been in this space armed with a weapon and carried it out? That’s a conversation we should have as a society,” Schierbaum said.
This marks the second deadly stabbing on the Beltline this year, following a May incident in which a 23-year-old woman was randomly stabbed.
RELATED: Atlanta Beltline stabbing suspect identified as 21-year-old
What we don’t know:
Authorities have not released the name of the 29-year-old victim killed in the attack.
Police have not stated what led up to the argument and ensuing stabbing.
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The Source: The information in this story was gathered from a press briefing held by Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum and details provided by the Atlanta Police Department. This story was updated with new video on Monday morning.