Man accused of stabbing outside church identified

A man who is being treated at Grady Memorial Hospital has been identified as the suspect in a stabbing outside an Atlanta church Friday morning, police said.

Kionte Riley (Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office)

Kionte Riley was charged with aggravated assault and attempted murder, Atlanta police spokesman Sgt. Warren Pickard said.

Riley is accused of repeatedly stabbing a man as he slept on the steps of Atlanta First United Methodist Church in the 300 block of Peachtree Street.

“It appears that he might be homeless,” Atlanta police spokesman Lt. Ricardo Vazquez said earlier.

Police responded after receiving a report of the stabbing about 3:30 a.m., Vazquez said. The man was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition with wounds to the torso and head.

According to police, Riley crossed Peachtree Street and assaulted the man.

Someone observed the attack, and police were able to get a description of a car the attacker used to drive away from the scene.

Investigators determined a car fitting that description was involved in an accident less than a mile away, Atlanta police spokesman Donald Hannah said.

Someone observed the attack, and police were later able to get a description of a car the attacker used to drive away from the scene. Investigators determined a car fitting that description was involved in an accident less than a mile away, Atlanta police spokesman Donald Hannah said. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Two people in the car were taken to Grady with non-life-threatening injuries.