Recent BeltLine violence has revived scrutiny of attacks in public recreation areas and the lasting impact on victims and their families.
ATLANTA, GA — A series of violent attacks in parks and along trails across metro Atlanta is renewing concerns about safety in public recreation areas, as families affected by earlier crimes continue to deal with their consequences and authorities review security measures.
The renewed attention follows multiple violent incidents along the Atlanta BeltLine in 2026 and a Channel 2 Action News analysis of FBI crime data from public recreation areas in 11 metro Atlanta counties. The station reported identifying at least 663 victims of random violence from 2022 through 2025 after excluding shootings involving multiple victims. Fulton, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties accounted for 534 of those victims, according to the analysis.
Among the people whose lives were changed by violence in a recreation area is Valerie Kasper. On June 5, 2021, Kasper was 25 weeks pregnant and walking with her 3-year-old son on the Peachtree Creek Greenway in Brookhaven when she encountered a stranger. Kasper told WSB-TV that the man made her uneasy before the attack. “I just had the creeps,” she said. Moments later, she was stabbed multiple times.
The attack left Kasper with serious injuries to her colon and liver and forced doctors to perform an emergency cesarean section. Her son Theodore was born at 25 weeks. Kasper told WSB-TV that Theodore, now 5, has cerebral palsy and continues to need support. Earlier reporting by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said police arrested Christopher Jones after the attack, and a DeKalb County grand jury later indicted him on charges including attempted murder, attempted feticide, aggravated assault and first-degree cruelty to children. An indictment is an accusation and does not establish guilt.
Kasper’s attack was followed weeks later by another case that shook the Atlanta area. Katherine “Katie” Janness, 40, and her dog, Bowie, were found killed inside Piedmont Park on July 28, 2021. The Atlanta Police Department says the homicide investigation remains active. Police have said investigators are focusing on DNA evidence, and a reward of up to $25,000 has been offered for information leading to an arrest and indictment. No suspect has been publicly identified in the case.
Violence on the Atlanta BeltLine brought new attention to park and trail safety this year. On May 14, Atlanta police responded to a stabbing near 1764 Flagler Ave. NE and found a 23-year-old woman critically injured. She later died at a hospital. Police said investigators used the city’s camera system to identify a person of interest and arrested 21-year-old Jahmare Brown later that day. Brown was charged with murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony. Police also linked him to an earlier assault near Plasters Avenue. The charges remain allegations unless proved in court.
Another fatal stabbing occurred near the BeltLine on Aug. 23. Atlanta police said officers responded shortly after 4 p.m. near 725 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE and found an adult man with a stab wound. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition and died there. Officers detained a suspect at the scene, according to police. Investigators said the circumstances surrounding the attack remained under investigation in the department’s public update.
Following that August attack, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens directed the city’s public safety and BeltLine teams to review patrols, camera coverage and emergency response procedures. Dickens said residents and visitors should be able to use the BeltLine safely and called for a broader examination of issues involving repeat offenders, behavioral health and public safety. The mayor’s statement said Atlanta police were continuing to investigate what led to the attack.
Police agencies in metro Atlanta have also increased their visibility in parks and recreation areas. WSB-TV reported that Gwinnett County officers who are not responding to calls are encouraged to spend time patrolling parks, completing paperwork there and interacting with the community. Cpl. Angela Carter of the Gwinnett County Police Department said officers cannot be everywhere but described an increased police presence as part of the department’s approach to park safety.
Local governments have made other changes following violent incidents, including adding lighting, surveillance cameras and emergency call boxes in some recreation areas. The response reflects the challenge facing communities with growing networks of parks, greenways and trails: keeping those spaces accessible while addressing isolated but serious acts of violence that can leave lasting fears among users.
For Kasper, the effects of the 2021 attack remain part of daily life, but she has said she does not want the experience to define her family or discourage others from enjoying public trails. “I don’t wanna be seen as a victim,” she told WSB-TV. “I’m a survivor and I wanna be an advocate now.” Meanwhile, Atlanta police continue investigating the Janness killing and other recent cases as officials review security measures around the region’s heavily used public spaces.
Author note: Last updated November 3, 2026.