Mugshot released of man accused of stabbing person to death on Atlanta Beltline

The stabbing happened near the Kroger on Ponce de Leon Avenue, one of the busiest areas of the Atlanta Beltline.

Witness Jor’dan Armstrong was among the people in the area when the fight happened.

“Next thing I know, everybody starting running,” Armstrong told Channel 2’s Brittany Kleinpeter on Sunday.

Armstrong told Kleinpeter he was later asked to flag an ambulance. He watched as the first responders treated the victim.

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“They put him on the stretcher, and they were holding his neck and he was alive. He was blinking and looking around,” Armstrong said.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said officers responded within minutes and found the 29-year-old man suffering from a stab wound.

The victim was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he later died.

Police arrested 54-year-old Jonathan Hamby, who Schierbaum described as having an extensive criminal history.

Schierbaum also said investigators are looking into whether mental health was a factor in the attack.

On Monday, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens responded to the deadly stabbing, saying he has asked the city’s public safety and BeltLine teams to review safety protocols surrounding the attack, including patrols, camera coverage and emergency response.

“Atlantans and visitors should be able to enjoy the BeltLine safely,” Dickens said.

The mayor also pointed to Hamby’s criminal history and history of mental illness, saying the case raises questions about the systems dealing with behavioral health, repeat offenders and public safety.

“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,” Dickens said.

Dickens said Atlanta will continue working to keep people safe, but added that the city “cannot solve these challenges alone.”

The stabbing happened in broad daylight and left some Beltline visitors questioning their sense of safety.

Victoria Hollanda, who was in the area, said she was “so scared for the family and scared for Atlanta.”

Another BeltLine visitor Lorenzo Geathers said people should be able to enjoy the trail without worrying about violence.

Rick Canosa said the attack has made him reconsider returning to the area.

Schierbaum told Kleinpeter that Hamby was on active probation when the stabbing happened. That probation stems from an aggravated assault case in Brookhaven.

Witnesses also told Kleinpeter they saw Hamby with a knife in each hand at some point during the altercation.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Channel 2 Action News is working to learn more about what led up to the fight and the circumstances surrounding the stabbing.

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