Witnesses describe chaotic scene during deadly Beltline stabbing
Deadly Beltline stabbing leaves witnesses shaken
Witnesses described the emotional toll of watching the tragedy unfold right in front of them.
ATLANTA - People who witnessed a deadly stabbing on Atlanta’s Beltline Sunday afternoon are struggling to process what they saw.
What we know:
Johnathan Hamby, 54, got into a verbal argument with two people on the Beltline near the Kroger on Ponce De Leon Avenue on Sunday afternoon, according to witnesses.
Witness Jessica Redd said Hamby threatened someone, claiming men near him were trying to rob him, and she recorded video showing Hamby holding two knives during the confrontation.
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Redd said Hamby then approached 29-year-old Ramon Harris and stabbed him.
Redd believes Harris was an innocent bystander who was trying to help his friend.
"I really wanted to cry, I'm trying not to cry now because seeing that gets me very emotional like somebody just died in front of us, and it's emotional knowing everybody was going about their day like it was just regular," she said.
"The other person got into his face, and he was trying to threaten him and attack him, but he got to the innocent bystander who was the friend trying to help his friend out," Redd added.
After the stabbing, witnesses rushed to help Harris while waiting for police, while Hamby remained at the scene still holding the knives, according to witnesses.
Elliott Augustine, another witness, described the scene as chaotic with a mob forming.
Augustine took Monday off from work due to the emotional impact of what he saw.
"I’ve been shook all day," Augustine said. "Most horrible thing I’ve ever seen in my life, and I’m 55."
What we don't know:
Authorities have not released information regarding potential motive beyond Hamby's claims of an attempted robbery.
The backstory:
Sunday's fatal stabbing is not the first reported on Atlanta's Beltline this year. In May, 23-year-old Alyssa Paige was fatally stabbed on the Beltline.
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The Source: The information in this story was gathered from Atlanta Beltline witnesses Jessica Redd and Elliott Augustine, who described the incident and provided video footage, as well as police reports.