Statement on Sunday’s Atlanta BeltLine Tragedy

Statement on Sunday's Atlanta BeltLine Tragedy

ATLANTA-Mayor Andre Dickens issued the following statement.

"After seeing the video of yesterday's heinous attack on the Atlanta BeltLine, my prayers are with the victim, his loved ones and everyone forced to witness such a horrific act of violence. Atlantans and visitors should be able to enjoy the BeltLine safely, and I have asked our public safety and BeltLine teams to conduct a review of the safety protocols surrounding this incident, including patrols, camera coverage and emergency response. APD continues to work to determine exactly what led to this attack. We now know the individual arrested in connection with this attack is a convicted felon with 30 prior arrest cycles and a history of mental illness, raising serious questions about how someone with that record was once again in a position to endanger the public. 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. Atlanta will continue doing everything within our power to keep people safe, but we cannot solve these challenges alone."