As hundreds of thousands of FIFA World Cup visitors are set to pour into Atlanta next week, the federal government is investigating the city’s public transit system after two recent stabbing incidents, including a horrific, unprovoked attack on a 66-year-old woman who was stabbed to death on a train.
Margaret Swan, a retired day care worker and great-grandmother who relied on Atlanta’s MARTA system to get around town, was on her way home aboard a train near the Oakland City station downtown on May 30 when John Elijah Matthews, a 25-year-old man unknown to her, stood next to her for a few moments, then took out a pocket knife and slashed her throat. He then viciously stabbed Swan 18 more times in the neck and chest as she screamed and tried to get away, according to the arrest warrant, 11Alive reported.
Terrified passengers were seen on CCTV huddling on the other side of the train as Matthews threw Swan to the floor and then calmly stood near her until the train arrived at the station, where he got off and was promptly arrested by MARTA police. Swan was pronounced dead at the scene.
Matthews was charged with murder by Fulton County and with a federal charge of committing an act of violence causing death at a mass transportation station by the U.S. District Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. Federal prosecutors said they may seek the death penalty against him.
Family Says Great-Grandmother’s Death Was Preventable
Swan’s daughter, Shanae Sams, is raising questions about safety and security across Atlanta’s transit system and is calling for a stronger police presence on trains…