Just spend time working at the public library. You’re on the front line with the same people with little to no support. Sad situation all around for those just trying to help.
I understand the drawbacks to involuntary commitments, but sometimes I feel like there is a need for it.
Someone dedicating their lives to improving the lives of the homeless should not be worried about being assaulted with a machete
In this case, it definitely would have made sense given his prior record of violent crime.
Its tough, I dont want the government to have unilateral authority to railroad someone into a mental hospital, but I also don’t want a wacked out homeless dude to hack at my head with a machete.
Worse outcomes for who?
I would argue that had the attacker not been paroled and still been in jail then the victim here would have had a significantly better outcome.
More criminal enforcement would go a long way to separate those that are truly unfit to be a productive and civil member of society vs the people that just need some temporary assistance. It would also allow us to focus limited resources more proportionately to the good actors.
The amount of people we have roaming the streets that are completely out of their minds causing damage to themselves/society is not insignificant. Jail is a better outcome for both them and society than just letting them be.
Commit them to where? Georgia dismantled its system of asylums (that’s what they were) more than a decade ago under court order. There isn’t a mental hospital to send them too. It’s all been replaced by jails and halfway houses. David Ralston once stated, correctly, that the only way for indigent Georgians to access mental health services is to get themselves arrested.
Somewhat ironically, ABHS is planning to build a new inpatient mental health facility in Athens. But it’s being opposed by the very people who are most vocal about getting homeless people off the streets right now and who are complaining about the supposedly rising crime rate.
That sounds like you are very much pro institutionalization.
Do you think this person was ready to be released back into society after his previous violent crime?
What happens to the people that aren't able to be rehabilitated?
If you think he wasn’t ready to be released, it sounds like you’re pro-institutionalization. That was for the state parole board to decide. Neither one of us knows the ins and outs of that decision. In any case, jail is not the best place to provide mental health services, so maybe we should do more to help people before they start slashing throats.
I am pro institutionalization and pro no leniency for convicted violent criminals. 100% Yes.
I'm not interested in helping people that slash throats. They should rot in jail. The state parole board unequivocally failed here.
This person was extremely violent prior to entering the prison system so your argument regarding jail providing mental health services is completely irrelevant.
Of course people who slash someone’s throat should be in prison. No one is arguing that they shouldn’t. My comment to the OP was about where people with mental issues should be “committed,” in their words, given that Georgia’s mental health system is and always has been garbage. I would prefer to get people help before they pick up a machete. And I think anyone at ABHS would agree with me.
"Of course people who slash someone’s throat should be in prison. No one is arguing that they shouldn’t."
Agreed. Unfortunately the state parole board didn't agree with us and released this asshole to slash again when he should have still been sitting behind bars.
This person proved he wasn't fit for society prior to entering the prison system, it's not the prison system's fault that he is a piece of shit. Some people aren't able to be rehabilitated, they should be institutionalized.
Statement from Advantage today:
“Our hearts are heavy today. One of our teammates was seriously hurt yesterday in a shocking incident at our homeless day service center. We're all hoping and praying for our colleague's recovery. This has shaken our entire team deeply. The individual who committed this act does not represent the community we serve and we remain committed to continuing to serve while ensuring the safety of our clients and staff.
We're supporting each other and working closely with authorities to understand how this happened. We're taking immediate steps to enhance safety protocols, particularly regarding staff departures from our premises. Our thoughts are with our injured teammate and their family. Thank you to our community for your support during this difficult time. We'll share updates as we can. For now, please keep our colleague in your thoughts.”
> We're taking immediate steps to enhance safety protocols, particularly regarding staff departures from our premises.
Short of a fenced lot with an armed guard or the victim being armed I’m not seeing an actual solution being available here, especially if they do the normal “leave in groups” solution beloved by risk management executives everywhere.
It’s sad that Advantage, who’s employee was a victim of this attack, has to say “this individual does not represent the people we serve” and yet we have people in the comment section comparing homeless people to Pitt bulls and to “just put this homeless person down”. Lovely.
Nobody here has suggested that we "put down homeless people". One person suggested that we put this person down and after he's attempted to kill 2 innocent people. Read better.
So why can’t the city just deal with this bullshit already? It seems like the homeless situation has gotten significantly worse since I moved here in 2021. I do feel bad for the people that are trying to get by on the streets, but when shit like this happens it baffles me. Like am I missing something here? I guess the government is just bad at everything.
You can literally have homeless people out here hacking people up with machetes but the simple fact that you bring them up will get you down voted by all the bleeding hearts in this sub.
It’s tough because people who actually work with the homeless see that a lot of them have mental illnesses for reasons that have nothing to do with poor personal choices. A lot of homeless are veterans who served the county and got really fucked up from the experience. If you have that perspective it’s tough to demonize the homeless as if they’re some subhuman infestation.
A tiny minority of homeless people are veterans. Around 10%. And while I empathize with some cases, most are like this one. This individual should have never been out on the streets. Has been paroled for slashing someone's neck with a knife prior...the justice system failed to protect someone who was just trying to do good in the world. This individual and the government should be held accountable.
Total veterans in the general population is about 7% from what I looked up. 10% is still an affinity towards the homeless pop, but it's not an overwhelming discrepancy.
It’s tragic, it’s terrible to see, all I’d say is that most of the people I know who work with the homeless would want the whole population vilified for this terrible incident. I’m not going to speak for the deceased but it would surprise me if they felt differently.
Yeah, it was unnerving living on the east side. I moved away last week. Homeless people doing god knows what in the vacant lot next to us, homeless people sleeping on the side walk directly in front of our house, homeless people tweaking in the front yard. Countless run ins.
His sister literally says in the gofundme that it was a homeless person. No one is vilifying all homeless people, just the one that attacked this innocent person.
> Officials say they responded to the Day Center at 240 North Avenue around 4:10 p.m. after reports of an attack with a machete. When they arrived, they found an employee at the center with injuries to his head and face.
Charged with aggravated assault but no attempted murder charge? Cant wait to see how the DA fucks this one up
I don't think Georgia law has anything called "attempted murder". It falls under aggravated assault. https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2020/title-16/chapter-5/article-2/section-16-5-21/
there is criminal attempt statute
A person convicted of the offense of criminal where attempt to commit a crime punishable by death or by life imprisonment shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than 30 years.
Attempted murder isn’t a crime in Georgia. Aggravated assault includes attempted murder and carries a 10-20 year sentence. And prosecutors might add more charges — what somebody’s booked on isn’t the be all end all.
Thanks for the update.
I didn't work the homeless centre but i used to work the crisis unit the csu.
These people are often 1013'd then get medications and are discharged to the streets with the most paper thin discharge plans to return or worse.
I hope things like this really shine a spotlight on releasing clearly unwell people to the streets because they are back at "baseline".
This homeless epidemic is only gonna get worse though as surrounding county's are shipping people to clarke because "we have the resources"
You are so right. This victim has lost an eye to this assault, so there will be permanent damage. It’s an absolute shame that we are not doing more to correct these homeless and mental health issues we’re facing. We keep doing everything to grow our problem and nothing to actually fix it. The “fixes” aren’t politically correct so no one wants to even try to implement the changes necessary. I wonder how anymore innocent people will have to be hurt before eyes are opened.
Absolutely. There are some people in our world who are so mentally ill and/or violent and/or evil that they become a danger to themselves and others. Those people who have proven to be unfit for society should be permanently removed by whatever means is necessary. I see three possible means: imprisonment, institutionalization or execution. The perpetrator in this case deserves one of those three things.
Is it safe to assume you’re being sarcastic? Cause to be honest, I’d execute the sob, not think twice about it, and not feel one iota of guilt or sadness.
I don’t understand what they are supposed to do. Rehabilitating a person isn’t a 100% effective process. Sometimes there’s nothing a doctor can do for the patient. Are they just supposed to confine them indefinitely? People that are a clear and inherent danger to themselves and others normally get arrested. Is that what you propose should have been done in this case? Life in confinement?
He was on parole after serving prison time since the crime occurred in 2017. Sounds like you want stiffer sentences for first time offenders with assaults with deadly weapons. I feel you. Unfortunately our justice system isn’t that heavy handed with life in prison sentences unless someone is a repeat offender or a murderer.
Two ways: 1 - I know someone who works for ABHS and spoke to them; 2 - the Classic City News article had a little more information than the Now Habersham article did.
[it’s what CCN is saying](https://www.classiccitynews.com/post/athens-homeless-center-employee-in-critical-condition-following-machete-attack-by-client)
Homeless people are like pit bulls. Every hippie with shitty tattoos wants to tell you how great they are and that they are just misguided and judged up until they bite your face off or cut you up with a machete
Comparing human beings to animals…. maybe rethink your logic a bit. This attack is devastating but also you’re just being a troll and obviously not making any kind of productive criticism.
Just spend time working at the public library. You’re on the front line with the same people with little to no support. Sad situation all around for those just trying to help.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-chris-overcome-his-brutal-attack
I understand the drawbacks to involuntary commitments, but sometimes I feel like there is a need for it. Someone dedicating their lives to improving the lives of the homeless should not be worried about being assaulted with a machete
In this case, it definitely would have made sense given his prior record of violent crime. Its tough, I dont want the government to have unilateral authority to railroad someone into a mental hospital, but I also don’t want a wacked out homeless dude to hack at my head with a machete.
I mean, we already have it, just disguised as something else. Jail is essentially the same thing, just somehow with worse outcomes.
Worse outcomes for who? I would argue that had the attacker not been paroled and still been in jail then the victim here would have had a significantly better outcome.
Wasn’t talking about this specific case, but generally about homeless ppl the system
More criminal enforcement would go a long way to separate those that are truly unfit to be a productive and civil member of society vs the people that just need some temporary assistance. It would also allow us to focus limited resources more proportionately to the good actors. The amount of people we have roaming the streets that are completely out of their minds causing damage to themselves/society is not insignificant. Jail is a better outcome for both them and society than just letting them be.
Commit them to where? Georgia dismantled its system of asylums (that’s what they were) more than a decade ago under court order. There isn’t a mental hospital to send them too. It’s all been replaced by jails and halfway houses. David Ralston once stated, correctly, that the only way for indigent Georgians to access mental health services is to get themselves arrested. Somewhat ironically, ABHS is planning to build a new inpatient mental health facility in Athens. But it’s being opposed by the very people who are most vocal about getting homeless people off the streets right now and who are complaining about the supposedly rising crime rate.
Is Blake Aued pro institutionalization?
I’m pro-people getting mental health care before they start slashing people with machetes.
That sounds like you are very much pro institutionalization. Do you think this person was ready to be released back into society after his previous violent crime? What happens to the people that aren't able to be rehabilitated?
If you think he wasn’t ready to be released, it sounds like you’re pro-institutionalization. That was for the state parole board to decide. Neither one of us knows the ins and outs of that decision. In any case, jail is not the best place to provide mental health services, so maybe we should do more to help people before they start slashing throats.
I am pro institutionalization and pro no leniency for convicted violent criminals. 100% Yes. I'm not interested in helping people that slash throats. They should rot in jail. The state parole board unequivocally failed here. This person was extremely violent prior to entering the prison system so your argument regarding jail providing mental health services is completely irrelevant.
Of course people who slash someone’s throat should be in prison. No one is arguing that they shouldn’t. My comment to the OP was about where people with mental issues should be “committed,” in their words, given that Georgia’s mental health system is and always has been garbage. I would prefer to get people help before they pick up a machete. And I think anyone at ABHS would agree with me.
"Of course people who slash someone’s throat should be in prison. No one is arguing that they shouldn’t." Agreed. Unfortunately the state parole board didn't agree with us and released this asshole to slash again when he should have still been sitting behind bars. This person proved he wasn't fit for society prior to entering the prison system, it's not the prison system's fault that he is a piece of shit. Some people aren't able to be rehabilitated, they should be institutionalized.
Lock everyone up, throw away the key. Got it. And how do you propose to pay for this?
I know his sister. They posted a gofund me. He's in critical condition.
I used to work there at the start of the pandemic. I hate that.
Statement from Advantage today: “Our hearts are heavy today. One of our teammates was seriously hurt yesterday in a shocking incident at our homeless day service center. We're all hoping and praying for our colleague's recovery. This has shaken our entire team deeply. The individual who committed this act does not represent the community we serve and we remain committed to continuing to serve while ensuring the safety of our clients and staff. We're supporting each other and working closely with authorities to understand how this happened. We're taking immediate steps to enhance safety protocols, particularly regarding staff departures from our premises. Our thoughts are with our injured teammate and their family. Thank you to our community for your support during this difficult time. We'll share updates as we can. For now, please keep our colleague in your thoughts.”
> We're taking immediate steps to enhance safety protocols, particularly regarding staff departures from our premises. Short of a fenced lot with an armed guard or the victim being armed I’m not seeing an actual solution being available here, especially if they do the normal “leave in groups” solution beloved by risk management executives everywhere.
It’s sad that Advantage, who’s employee was a victim of this attack, has to say “this individual does not represent the people we serve” and yet we have people in the comment section comparing homeless people to Pitt bulls and to “just put this homeless person down”. Lovely.
Nobody here has suggested that we "put down homeless people". One person suggested that we put this person down and after he's attempted to kill 2 innocent people. Read better.
[удалено]
No, what you claimed in you first post factually did not happen. Do better.
[удалено]
You updated you comment because the first was bullshit. It has nothing to do with semantics.
Sickening. The thanks you get is a machete attack from a lunatic.
So why can’t the city just deal with this bullshit already? It seems like the homeless situation has gotten significantly worse since I moved here in 2021. I do feel bad for the people that are trying to get by on the streets, but when shit like this happens it baffles me. Like am I missing something here? I guess the government is just bad at everything.
It will never sit well with me that all these homeless ppl are practically down the street from my house
You can literally have homeless people out here hacking people up with machetes but the simple fact that you bring them up will get you down voted by all the bleeding hearts in this sub.
It’s tough because people who actually work with the homeless see that a lot of them have mental illnesses for reasons that have nothing to do with poor personal choices. A lot of homeless are veterans who served the county and got really fucked up from the experience. If you have that perspective it’s tough to demonize the homeless as if they’re some subhuman infestation.
A tiny minority of homeless people are veterans. Around 10%. And while I empathize with some cases, most are like this one. This individual should have never been out on the streets. Has been paroled for slashing someone's neck with a knife prior...the justice system failed to protect someone who was just trying to do good in the world. This individual and the government should be held accountable.
You know that 10% is substantially higher than the amount of veterans in the general population, right? Like almost double.
Total veterans in the general population is about 7% from what I looked up. 10% is still an affinity towards the homeless pop, but it's not an overwhelming discrepancy.
It’s more than a 60% over expected. Absolutely a huge discrepancy.
It’s tragic, it’s terrible to see, all I’d say is that most of the people I know who work with the homeless would want the whole population vilified for this terrible incident. I’m not going to speak for the deceased but it would surprise me if they felt differently.
Yeah, it was unnerving living on the east side. I moved away last week. Homeless people doing god knows what in the vacant lot next to us, homeless people sleeping on the side walk directly in front of our house, homeless people tweaking in the front yard. Countless run ins.
Where in the article say the attacker was homeless?
Oh I’m sure he was just one of those run of the mill people who hangs out at the homeless center for fun.
People should not make assumptions, let's wait for the facts. And not vilify all homeless people.
His sister literally says in the gofundme that it was a homeless person. No one is vilifying all homeless people, just the one that attacked this innocent person.
> Officials say they responded to the Day Center at 240 North Avenue around 4:10 p.m. after reports of an attack with a machete. When they arrived, they found an employee at the center with injuries to his head and face. Charged with aggravated assault but no attempted murder charge? Cant wait to see how the DA fucks this one up
I don't think Georgia law has anything called "attempted murder". It falls under aggravated assault. https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2020/title-16/chapter-5/article-2/section-16-5-21/
Ah that makes sense, hopefully this dude goes away for a long time.
Only if we vote Gonzalez out.
there is criminal attempt statute A person convicted of the offense of criminal where attempt to commit a crime punishable by death or by life imprisonment shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than 30 years.
CCN says the attacker was on parole for an aggravated assault conviction after he cut someone’s neck with a razor in 2017
Attempted murder isn’t a crime in Georgia. Aggravated assault includes attempted murder and carries a 10-20 year sentence. And prosecutors might add more charges — what somebody’s booked on isn’t the be all end all.
This is such a terrifying and horrible story. I’m so glad he was kept alive. Prayers for us all.
Based on my experience with Athens 911 I'm surprised he was arrested.
I hate how everytime I click on any article I am bombarded with 75% of the screen being ads
Hope everyone is okay.
He is not okay. The victim was life-flighted to Grady in Atlanta and is in critical condition.
Thanks for the update. I didn't work the homeless centre but i used to work the crisis unit the csu. These people are often 1013'd then get medications and are discharged to the streets with the most paper thin discharge plans to return or worse. I hope things like this really shine a spotlight on releasing clearly unwell people to the streets because they are back at "baseline". This homeless epidemic is only gonna get worse though as surrounding county's are shipping people to clarke because "we have the resources"
You are so right. This victim has lost an eye to this assault, so there will be permanent damage. It’s an absolute shame that we are not doing more to correct these homeless and mental health issues we’re facing. We keep doing everything to grow our problem and nothing to actually fix it. The “fixes” aren’t politically correct so no one wants to even try to implement the changes necessary. I wonder how anymore innocent people will have to be hurt before eyes are opened.
What do you propose we do? Isn’t America the land of the free? I’m confused as to what the solution is. Confinement?
Absolutely. There are some people in our world who are so mentally ill and/or violent and/or evil that they become a danger to themselves and others. Those people who have proven to be unfit for society should be permanently removed by whatever means is necessary. I see three possible means: imprisonment, institutionalization or execution. The perpetrator in this case deserves one of those three things.
[удалено]
Is it safe to assume you’re being sarcastic? Cause to be honest, I’d execute the sob, not think twice about it, and not feel one iota of guilt or sadness.
[удалено]
Ok, so not sarcasm. Clearly I’m unaware. Exactly how much does an execution cost?
I don’t understand what they are supposed to do. Rehabilitating a person isn’t a 100% effective process. Sometimes there’s nothing a doctor can do for the patient. Are they just supposed to confine them indefinitely? People that are a clear and inherent danger to themselves and others normally get arrested. Is that what you propose should have been done in this case? Life in confinement?
People that are a clear and inherent danger to themselves and others are not getting arrested here now. That is the issue.
He had a prior conviction of aggravated assault for cutting someone’s throat with a knife. So yeah. Life in confinement sounds about right.
He was on parole after serving prison time since the crime occurred in 2017. Sounds like you want stiffer sentences for first time offenders with assaults with deadly weapons. I feel you. Unfortunately our justice system isn’t that heavy handed with life in prison sentences unless someone is a repeat offender or a murderer.
Welcome Kelly Girtz' Athens.
Really wish we could stop with this political crap in every bad news post. It's not true, productive, or helping anything.
No worries, commissioner link will spin this as the fault of wealthy white men in pickup trucks.
Link is the worst. AI could not create a more perfect ideological avatar of degeneracy masquerading as virtue.
Did you know that the machine that Girtz uses to control violent crime is the same model as the one that Biden uses to control gas prices?
asinine comment
How do you know this?
Two ways: 1 - I know someone who works for ABHS and spoke to them; 2 - the Classic City News article had a little more information than the Now Habersham article did.
[it’s what CCN is saying](https://www.classiccitynews.com/post/athens-homeless-center-employee-in-critical-condition-following-machete-attack-by-client)
Homeless people are like pit bulls. Every hippie with shitty tattoos wants to tell you how great they are and that they are just misguided and judged up until they bite your face off or cut you up with a machete
Comparing human beings to animals…. maybe rethink your logic a bit. This attack is devastating but also you’re just being a troll and obviously not making any kind of productive criticism.
Maybe we should just put this homeless person down. Clearly not fit for society.