Warrants: Deadly MARTA stabbing was unprovoked, victim was stabbed 18-20 times
ATLANTA — The unsettling stabbing attack on a 66-year-old grandmother on board a MARTA train over the weekend happened suddenly and without provocation, according to arrest warrants, as she was stabbed 18-20 times.
According to warrants, 25-year-old suspect John Elijah Matthews 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.
The warrant, describing CCTV video footage from inside the train, indicates the two never even communicated.
At 11:21 on Saturday, the video 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 took out a knife, opened it, and cut the victim in the throat.
The warrants then describe Swan screaming and trying to get up from her seat, as Matthews held her and committed the stabbing. He 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 late"My mom was the rock of her family," said Swan's daughter, Shanae Sams. "There was nothing she wouldn't do for her family because her family is her everything."
"He (the suspect) didn't just take away a mom, but my children's grandmother was taken away."
On Monday morning, the Fulton County Sheriff's Office released Matthews' mug shot.
According to the warrants, on Saturday when the train arrived at Oakland City, Matthews got out with a knife still in hand as officers rushed to the scene. The warrant describes officers attempting life-saving measures for Swan that were ultimately not successful.
Matthews does not have an address or phone number, the warrants state, and he "did not want to continue speaking with detectives" at the College Park MARTA Police Precinct.
Searches of the court and jail records of metro Atlanta jurisdictions did not immediately give a clear indication whether Matthews has any prior criminal history in the area. He is, at this time, charged with murder in Saturday's killing.
A MARTA spokesperson told 11Alive that, "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 added: "We understand the concern and fear incidents like this can cause for those who ride and work on the MARTA system. MARTA Police are actively investigating and remain committed to the safety and security of our riders and employees."
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