Brookhaven police arrested a suspect in the stabbing of a woman who was five months pregnant and had to have an emergency C-section as a result of the attack.
The suspect was identified as Christopher Jones, 30, a homeless man who police said is familiar to them and has a history of mental illness. He was arrested without incident at the Arts Center MARTA station Thursday morning.
Jones is accused of approaching the 34-year-old woman, who was walking along the Peachtree Creek Greenway with her 3-year-old son about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, and stabbing her in the back multiple times when she tried to walk away. Police said the woman is stable at a hospital, while the newborn is in critical but stable condition. The 3-year-old was not injured.
Police previously released a photograph of the suspect, asking for the public’s help in tracking him down. Police Lt. David Snively said investigators were able to identify Jones because he was recognized by a tipster. He faces aggravated assault, aggravated battery and first-degree child cruelty charges.
“From everything we can tell, this is a completely unprovoked attack,” Snively previously told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I recognize that’s probably the scariest of the possible explanations... We’re very troubled by what led up to this because this is one of those cases where it appears the victim did everything right.”
At a news conference to announce the arrest Thursday, Snively said investigators “believe that mental illness played a role in this case,” but he did not disclose further details about the interaction between the suspect and the victim before the stabbing.
The incident took place near the Corporate Boulevard access point to the Peachtree Creek Greenway. The suspect ran away from the scene after the incident. Police said one of the trail’s cameras captured Jones leaving the scene.
Snively added that investigators learned Jones is frequently in Atlanta, Brookhaven and some areas of unincorporated DeKalb, but they don’t know where he primarily lived. Jones, who was found unarmed, admitted to the stabbing when he was arrested, Snively said.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident are horrific,” Snively said Thursday. “But we are also encouraged that this is the first incident that has ever taken place on the Peachtree Creek Greenway (since it opened in December 2019).”
Credit: DeKalb County Sheriff's Office
Credit: DeKalb County Sheriff's Office
A GoFundMe page that was created by a friend of the victim has raised more than $66,000 as of noon Thursday. The post said the woman is a teacher and that her newborn is a boy.
“Although they are healing, they have a long road ahead of them and a very prolonged hospital stay,” the post said. “... They are so appreciative of all the love and support.”
Snively said Atlanta police, Chamblee police, MARTA police and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation and arrest.
“We couldn’t do it ourselves because criminals have no boundaries,” Brookhaven police Chief Gary Yandura said Thursday. “We don’t need boundaries either.”
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Credit: Ben Gray
Credit: Ben Gray
Credit: Ben Gray
Credit: Ben Gray
Credit: Ben Gray
Credit: Ben Gray
Credit: Ben Gray
Credit: Ben Gray
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