Prosecutors: Suspect in stabbing of pregnant woman in Brookhaven had 12 previous arrests in GA

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The man accused of stabbing a pregnant woman on a greenway in Brookhaven has been denied bond.

Christopher Jones, 30, was arrested Thursday near the Arts Center MARTA Station. Police said Jones is homeless and mentally ill.

Jones had his first appearance in court Friday. The judge denied bond based on the nature of the crime and Jones’ previous criminal history.

The assistant district attorney said Jones had been arrested in Georgia 12 times for crimes including simple assault, battery, theft and robbery. Prosecutors said he had also been arrested in Alabama and as a juvenile in Tennessee.

Video obtained by Channel 2 Action News shows the moments Jones was taken into custody.

Jones has been charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery and cruelty to children in the first degree. All three charges are felonies. Jones is in custody at the DeKalb County jail.

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The woman was stabbed in the back while she was walking with her son along the Peachtree Creek Greenway in Brookhaven on Saturday, according to police.

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Friends of the woman, whose identity has not been released, said she was pregnant and forced to have an emergency C-section following the attack. They also said she had to have another invasive surgery to save her life.

The baby, who the victim was just five months pregnant with, is now in the NICU at a local hospital. Both the baby and the mother are expected to survive.

Officers said Jones approached the woman, who was walking with her son, and tried striking up a conversation with her. When she started to leave, police said the man stabbed the woman in the back.

Police said Jones was identified by a tipster who recognized him from a security camera photo shared by the news. Officers from the Brookhaven Police Department, Atlanta Police Department, MARTA Police Department and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the search.

After the tip, they were able to locate Jones in just a few minutes. Police said he was armed and did not offer any resistance.

Sgt. David Snively with the Brookhaven police department told Channel 2′s Tom Regan that Jones did admit to stabbing the woman, but not to why he did it.

“That’s what investigators are trying to get at with their questions,” Snively said.

People who live near the greenway said they are still in shock.

“When I saw the picture of her with her family, I thought, ‘Oh my God,’” Cynthia Moore said.

“I feel for her family, her husband and her child,” Ronnie Mayer said.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with the mother’s medical expenses.

Victim of random Brookhaven stabbing had to have emergency C-section, friends say

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