A 54-year-old convicted felon has been charged with murder and aggravated assault in the stabbing death of a man on the Atlanta Beltline, a popular destination for residents and tourists.
Johnathan Hamby is charged in the Sunday, Aug. 23, stabbing death of 29-year-old Ramon Harris on the Atlanta Beltline.
CBS News, citing Fulton County Jail records, reported that Hamby has been arrested multiple times since 2011. Charges have included aggravated assault, battery, criminal trespass, interference with government property, and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony.
“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,” Fox 5 Atlanta quoted Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum as saying.
At about 4:01 p.m., Atlanta Police Zone 6 officers responded to a report of a person stabbed near 725 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE. Upon arriving, officers located an adult male victim who had sustained an apparent stab wound.
Fox 5 Atlanta, citing an arrest warrant, reported that Hamby argued with two men near the Kroger on Ponce de Leon Avenue and threatened to stab them. Police said Hamby then lunged at Harris and stabbed him in the neck.
Harris was transported to the hospital by ambulance in critical condition, where he died.
“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,” Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement. “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. 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 cycles and 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 added. “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.”
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