A man accused of fatally stabbing another man on the Atlanta BeltLine on Sunday had an extensive criminal history and record of violence, Atlanta Police and Mayor Andre Dickens said.
Just after 4 p.m. on Aug. 23, Atlanta Police responded to an area of the BeltLine near Kroger on Ponce De Leon Avenue after reports of a stabbing, according to a news release. The victim, a 29-year-old man who was not identified by police, was stabbed in the neck and was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he died.
A second man, 54-year-old Jonathan Hamby, was detained at the scene, police said during a news conference posted online on Sunday. Police said a knife was also recovered.
The incident marks the second fatal stabbing on the BeltLine in recent months.
In May, a 23-year-old woman was killed in a random attack in the middle of the day while running on the trail. Unlike the attack in May, police say the stabbing Sunday stemmed from an argument between two men that escalated, and it was not random.
Alleged attacker had extensive criminal history
According to Atlanta Police, the attack was isolated and not indicative of a larger threat on the BeltLine. But Dickens raised concerns about the alleged stabber's extensive criminal history.
"APD continues to work to determine exactly what led to this attack. We now know the individual arrested in connection with this attack is a convicted felon with 30 prior arrest cyclesand a history of mental illness, raising serious questions about how someone with that record was once again in a position to endanger the public," Dickens said in a statement. "Those facts demand that we examine the systems surrounding behavioral health, repeat offenders, and public safety, and address any failures plainly with the partners responsible for those systems. Atlanta will continue doing everything within our power to keep people safe, but we cannot solve these challenges alone.”
According to Fulton County Jail records, Hamby was previously booked on charges of obstruction, battery, criminal trespass, interference with government property, aggravated assault, and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony. On Monday, Hamby was charged with murder, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a felony, jail records show.
“After seeing the video of yesterday’s heinous attack on the Atlanta BeltLine, my prayers are with the victim, his loved ones and everyone forced to witness such a horrific act of violence. Atlantans and visitors should be able to enjoy the BeltLine safely, and I have asked our public safety and BeltLine teams to conduct a review of the safety protocols surrounding this incident, including patrols, camera coverage and emergency response," Dickens said.
Second fatal stabbing on BeltLine in recent months
Alyssa Paige, 23, was fatally stabbed in Atlanta in May. Paige was running on the BeltLine in the middle of the day when she was attacked.
The man accused of killing Paige, identified as 21-year-old Jahmare Brown, attacked a U.S. Postal Service worker with a brick, breaking their nose before he arrived at the BeltLine. He then attacked Paige at random, forcing a five-hour manhunt that ended in his arrest.
Paige was rushed to the hospital, where she was declared dead. Brown has an existing criminal history, though no known connection to Paige.
Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Another fatal stabbing near Atlanta BeltLine was not random, cops say
