The person charged in Sunday’s deadly stabbing close to the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Path had 30 prior arrests and was on lively probation for an aggravated-assault case, in keeping with the Atlanta Police Division.
Johnathan Hamby, 54, was booked Monday on fees of homicide, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, and possession of a firearm or knife through the fee of a felony within the demise of 29-year-old Ramon Harris close to a Kroger grocery retailer at Ponce de Leon Avenue.
Atlanta police stated officers responded at about 4:01 p.m. to a report of a stabbing, discovered Harris with an obvious stab wound and detained a suspect on the scene. Harris was taken to a hospital, the place he died.
Authorities stated that the stabbing started when Hamby was allegedly arguing with Harris and one other man earlier than threatening to stab them.
The incident occurred close to Atlanta’s famed Beltline, a 22-mile loop of multi-use trails and public parks across the metropolis.
“We imagine this was an assault that was carried out because of an argument that was verbal in nature and rapidly escalated,” Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum stated in a information convention Monday.
An arrest warrant, obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta, alleges Hamby then stabbed Harris within the neck. Investigators additionally recovered two knives on the scene, the outlet reported.
Schierbaum stated that the division’s data confirmed Hamby was no stranger to interactions with police and had been arrested 30 occasions.
The chief additionally famous that Hamby was a felon on lively probation for a previous aggravated-assault case in Brookhaven.
FOX 5 additionally reported that Hamby had beforehand pleaded responsible to aggravated assault with a knife.
Based on Fox Information Digital’s evaluate of Fulton County jail data, Hamby’s earlier arrests included allegations of battery, aggravated assault, possession of a knife through the fee of a felony, obstruction of legislation enforcement and legal trespass.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens stated Monday that he requested town’s public security and Beltline groups to evaluate patrols, digital camera protection and the emergency response surrounding the assault.
“After seeing the video of yesterday’s heinous assault on the Atlanta Beltline, my prayers are with the sufferer, his family members and everybody compelled to witness such a horrific act of violence. Atlantans and guests ought to be capable of benefit from the Beltline safely, and I’ve requested our public security and Beltline groups to conduct a evaluate of the protection protocols surrounding this incident, together with patrols, digital camera protection and emergency response,” Dickens stated.
The mayor stated that Hamby’s lengthy historical past as a felon raises “severe questions on how somebody with that document was as soon as once more able to hazard the general public.”
“These information demand that we study the methods surrounding behavioral well being, repeat offenders and public security, and handle any failures plainly with the companions liable for these methods.
Atlanta will proceed doing all the pieces inside our energy to maintain folks protected, however we can’t clear up these challenges alone,” he stated.
APD stated that its info is preliminary and that the murder investigation is ongoing. An lawyer was not listed for Hamby as of Monday night.
Fox Information Digital has requested extra info from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Workplace.
