BeltLine Stabbing: Suspect makes first appearance
An escaped inmate is back behind bars, but not before police say he killed someone while on the run late Friday. Monday, 27-Year-old William Coleman appeared before a judge for his first appearance as he now faces a murder charge.
ATLANTA – Bond was denied late Monday morning for the escaped inmate accused of stabbing a man to death last Friday night near the Atlanta BeltLine in northeast Atlanta.
ORIGINAL STORY: Escaped inmate arrested after deadly stabbing in NE Atlanta
William Tyler Coleman, 27, was arrested after officers responded to a stabbing on the 200 block Montgomery Ferry Road NE in northeast Atlanta
Shortly after officers detailed Coleman, they discovered he was wanted by the Georgia Department of Corrections for an escape.
Neighbors say they were never notified about Coleman leaving the facility on June 22nd and were disturbed to find he not only was able to get away, but he was also able to allegedly kill someone.
“It’s a pretty scary thing to hear, especially when you’re living so close,” said David Fernandez said. “I think that it is important to be very intentional about how we transition people back into society, but at the same time, there has to be some caution there as well.”
Another neighbor told FOX 5 this wasn’t the first time an inmate escaped.
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RAW: Bond hearing held for William Tyler Coleman
Bond was denied for William Tyler Coleman, accused for stabbing someone to death on the Atlanta BeltLine, during a hearing late Monday morning.
According to GDOC records, Coleman was convicted of robbery and simple battery in 2019. He was being held at the Atlanta Transitional Center at the time of his escape.
GDOC explained that the transitional center provides up to 250 inmates with the opportunity to live in a structured setting with counseling and employment assistance. Inmates are usually referred to as work release residents once they are assigned to a TC. The purpose of the TC is to help them return to society.
GDOC claims that more than 95% of offenders stay at the TC and eventually return to society. Unfortunately, the other 5% choose to leave. When that occurs, GDOC says it dedicates their Fugitive Unit resources toward immediate action and recapture.
GDOC says that Coleman walked out of the Atlanta TC on June 22. GDOC sent a BOLO (Be On The Lookout) to Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office and Atlanta Police Department on June 26.
A lawyer representing Coleman in court Monday morning indicated that he was a longtime resident of Atlanta.
Coleman is being charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony.
The victim had not been identified by the medical examiner as of Monday evening.
