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Macon's homeless community on edge in wake of recent assaults in downtown Macon

William Maurice Montreal is in jail, and has been accused of assaulting a homeless woman on June 11. Albert Knight's murderer is still missing.

MACON, Ga. — The man accused of attacking a homeless woman on June 11 has been arrested, but that doesn't mean Macon's homeless feel any safer on the streets.

Avenania Thompson doesn't have a permanent home. After recent attacks on homeless people in Macon, she said she looks to the Salvation Army to keep her safe. 

"If you see something say something," Thompson said. "Try to help the lady, try to do something instead of nothing."

A few days ago, deputies arrested William Maurice Montreal in the assault case of Te'arie register as she slept on a bench. She is still recovering.

The person who beat Albert Knight to death is still on the loose.

Teresa White is the Director of Social Services at the Salvation Army and focuses on keeping their clients safe.

According to the booking report, Montreal was charged with aggravated assault and he's being held without bond.

"We all were startled," White said. "We all held on to the piece that we knew that Macon-Bibb County would do whatever they needed to do."

Even though the two recent attacks involved concrete blocks, the suspect captured on video in the open fatal beating case is a different person and as long as he's on the run people who sleep in the streets aren't able to let their guard completely down. 

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