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Suspect in fatal Atlanta Beltline stabbing had 30 prior arrests, police say

A 54-year-old man faces murder and weapons charges following a deadly argument near a popular trail loop in Atlanta.

The short version

  • Johnathan Hamby, 54, was arrested and charged with murder after allegedly stabbing 29-year-old Ramon Harris in the neck following a verbal argument.
  • Atlanta police reported that Hamby is a felon on active probation for a prior aggravated assault and had 30 previous arrests.
  • Following the attack near the Eastside Trail, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens directed public safety officials to review security protocols, patrols, and camera coverage.

Key facts

  • Atlanta police responded to a stabbing report around 4:01 p.m. on Sunday near a Kroger on Ponce de Leon Avenue along the Beltline's Eastside Trail.[Fox News]
  • Ramon Harris, 29, suffered a neck wound in the attack and later died at a hospital.[Fox News]
  • Johnathan Hamby, 54, was detained at the scene and booked on charges including murder, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, and weapons possession.[Fox News]
  • Police stated Hamby was on active probation for a prior aggravated assault case in Brookhaven and had been arrested 30 times previously.[Fox News]
  • Investigators recovered two knives at the scene of the stabbing.[Fox News]

What remains uncertain

  • The homicide investigation remains active, and police noted that early information regarding the event is preliminary.[Fox News]
  • It was not immediately clear if Hamby had secured legal representation as of Monday evening.[Fox News]

Sources