In a tragic incident on a MARTA train, a 66-year-old woman from Atlanta was fatally stabbed in what authorities have described as a random act of violence.
The victim has been identified as Margaret Swan by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office. She was attacked while the train was traveling between the Lakewood-Fort McPherson and Oakland City stations, according to MARTA Police Chief Scott Kreher.
“This appears to be a senseless act of violence, and our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones and those who witnessed this horrific incident,” MARTA expressed in a statement.
John Elijah Matthews, 25, has been charged with malice murder in connection with the death of Swan on the public transportation system.
John Elijah Matthews allegedly began the attack by cutting the throat of the victim, identified as Margaret Swan, just seconds after he walked up next to where she was sitting on a train approaching the Oakland City MARTA station. (Fulton County Sheriff’s Office)
According to the warrant obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta, the passenger was sitting alone on the train when Matthews began the alleged stabbing attack.
At 11:21 on Saturday, the CCTV reportedly showed Swan sitting alone on the train car. Just before 11:25, Matthews is seen on board, walking to the side of the train where Swan was sitting, standing near her alone.
Matthews, 19 seconds later, “is seen walking up to (Swan) and standing just to her right.”
Several seconds later, he allegedly took out a knife, opened it and cut the victim in the throat. 11Alive reported that Swan was stabbed 18 to 20 times in an unprovoked attack.
Surveillance footage captured the unprovoked attack inside a moving train car before MARTA police officers arrested the armed suspect on the station platform. (MARTA)
During the attack, the warrant said, the victim was screaming for help as she was continuing to get stabbed. The suspect was then seen on the CCTV cameras “throwing [Swan] to the floor and standing near her until the train arrived at the Oakland City Station,” less than two minutes later, according to the warrant.
When the train arrived at Oakland City, according to the warrant, Matthews got out with a knife still in hand as officers rushed to the scene. Matthews was arrested and charged shortly after.
Emergency medical workers attempted life-saving efforts, but Swan died on the scene.
The stabbing was reported around 1:29 p.m. at the Georgia State MARTA station. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
The stabbing comes as Atlanta passengers have grown increasingly worried about train safety. Last week, according to FOX 5, a man was stabbed multiple times at the Georgia State Station.
News Media has reached out to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office for additional information.
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