ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The suspect accused of stabbing and killing a man near the Kroger on the Beltline in August has been deemed incompetent by a physician to stand trial, court records show.

Johnathan Hamby, 54, faces charges of murder, possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies, aggravated assault and terroristic threats and acts. His case has been transferred to the Competency Docket, which handles cases where the defendant can't stand trial.

Johnathan Hamby (Fulton County Sheriff's Office)

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On Aug. 23, Hamby allegedly stabbed 29-year-old Ramon Harris. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and later died, police said.

Hamby had been arrested at least 30 times previously in several metro Atlanta counties, according to Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. When Harris was stabbed, Hamby was on probation for an aggravated assault in Chamblee in 2023 and a trespassing and weapons violation in 2022.

 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,  the mayor said.

In a statement, Hamby's family said he has a severe mental illness that causes psychosis. They added their belief that the court system is broken, leading to the tragedy.

 During these prior arrest cycles, our family begged the courts to intervene,  the family said.  We did not ask to strip his humanity away; we asked for a legal mechanism to step in and save him - and the community - from his delusions ... Instead, the courts repeatedly dismissed our pleas, citing strict legal thresholds regarding immediate danger. 

Ramon Harris (viewer)

Harris was a well-known member of Atlanta's skateboarding community, and his friends described him as someone who lit up the room.

 He was a local legend,  Stella Minter, who knew him for years, told Atlanta News First.  Everybody knew him and loved him. I don't think he had any 
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