Convicted Felon with Dozens of Arrests Fatally Stabs Man on Atlanta Beltline in Broad Daylight as Shocking Video Circulates

ATLANTA — A 29-year-old man was stabbed in the neck and killed Sunday afternoon on one of Atlanta’s most popular public trails after a verbal argument escalated into deadly violence near the Kroger on the Beltline, authorities said. Graphic video of the confrontation has since spread online, showing the chaotic scene under an overpass as bystanders fled.

Atlanta police responded just after 4 p.m. Sunday to reports of a stabbing near 725 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE, adjacent to the Eastside Trail and the well-known Kroger store long nicknamed “Murder Kroger” by locals due to its history of violence. Officers found the victim suffering from a severe neck wound. He was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he later died.

Police took 54-year-old Jonathan Hamby into custody at the scene. Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said Hamby is a convicted felon with an extensive criminal record that includes 30 previous arrest cycles. He was on active probation for an aggravated assault case out of Brookhaven at the time of the killing.

“Mr. Hamby has an extensive criminal history and has been arrested multiple times by law enforcement,” Schierbaum told reporters. “We’re currently showing 30 previous arrest cycles. We’re showing that he is a convicted felon, and we’re showing that he was on active probation for an aggravated assault that occurred in Brookhaven.”

Investigators said the two men did not appear to know each other. According to police, a verbal dispute turned physical and Hamby used a knife he was carrying to stab the victim. Officers recovered the weapon. Witnesses reported seeing the suspect with knives in both hands during the altercation.

Video circulating on social media, posted with viewer discretion warnings by local accounts, captures parts of the confrontation under the concrete structure near the trail. In the footage, an agitated man can be seen interacting with others before the situation rapidly deteriorates and people run from the area. One local journalist shared witness accounts describing a dispute involving the victim, the suspect, and a third person shortly before the stabbing.

The victim’s name has not been publicly released. Police said there was no ongoing threat to the public after Hamby’s arrest.

The incident marks another high-profile act of violence on the Atlanta Beltline, a heavily trafficked multi-use trail that draws millions of visitors annually. Schierbaum noted that officers already patrolling nearby responded quickly after 911 calls came in.

Hamby’s background has drawn particular scrutiny. Court records show prior cases involving weapons and violence, including a 2024 guilty plea for carrying a weapon within a school safety zone. He had been ordered to complete anger management and a mental health evaluation as conditions of earlier supervision but reportedly did not fulfill those requirements.

“Was he an individual that should be in this space, armed with a weapon, and that carried it out?” Schierbaum asked during a briefing, highlighting concerns about repeat offenders remaining free on probation.

Atlanta Beltline officials issued a statement expressing condolences and noting that such attacks do not reflect the daily experience of most trail users, while pledging continued work with partners on safety measures.

The investigation remains active. Hamby was being held pending formal charges as of early Monday. No further details on a possible motive have been released beyond the argument that preceded the attack.

The case has reignited debate over public safety on popular urban trails and the handling of individuals with lengthy criminal records who remain in the community under probation supervision.