Photo: Fulton County Sheriff's Office
A 66-year-old woman was fatally stabbed in what officials describe as an apparently random attack on a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) train around noon on Saturday (May 30). Police arrested 25-year-old John Elijah Matthews moments after he stepped off the train at Oakland City Station, where the stabbing occurred, according to MARTA Police Chief Scott Kreher.
Chief Kreher said that video from the train showed Matthews standing next to the victim, identified as Margaret Swan, before attacking her with a small pocket knife, stabbing her up to 20 times without any apparent provocation. Officials said that Swan and Matthews did not know each other.
First responders attempted to revive Swan, but she died at the scene.
Police found Matthews near the north end of the platform with a knife nearby. He did not attempt to flee or hide after the attack. Matthews has been charged with murder and waived a bond hearing scheduled for Monday. He has not yet entered a plea.
Family members described the loss as devastating and called for increased safety measures on public transit. Swan’s daughter, Shanae Sams, said, "You took an aunt, a mom, a cousin, a sister, a niece. You took away someone’s family member for your selfishness. It’s just unforgettable," according to Atlanta News First.
Some MARTA riders expressed increased anxiety following the incident, with several calling for more visible security. MARTA has said the stabbing was an isolated event but acknowledged it has caused concern among riders. The agency operates with 12,000 security cameras and a dedicated police force of 280 officers. In response to the incident MARTA police increased officer schedules to six-day workweeks.