Woman killed in ‘random’ stabbing on MARTA train in Atlanta
A 25-year-old man has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing a woman to death on an Atlanta commuter train in an apparently random attack.
John Elijah Matthews was arrested around noon Saturday, moments after he stepped off the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority train at the Oakland City Station.
First responders tried to resuscitate Margaret Swan, 66, but she died at the scene, MARTA Police Chief Scott Kreher said.
Matthews waived a bond hearing set for Monday morning, and a defense attorney named in his court documents did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment. Matthews has not yet had the opportunity to enter a plea.
Kreher said video from the train depicted an unprovoked and chilling attack on an apparent stranger, and that Swan was stabbed up to 20 times.
“There's no evidence at this time to suggest they knew each other — this was merely a random act of violence,” Kreher said.
“He walked over, stood next to her, and within 30 seconds he h..
