A 25-year-old John Elijah Matthews, accused of fatally stabbing a 66-year-old Margaret Swan on a MARTA train at the Oakland City Station on Saturday, was arrested by the police. The incident reportedly occurred in the morning, and MARTA police were called following the incident.
According to Fox 5 Atlanta, following the tragic incident, the emergency medical workers tried to save the victim, but she succumbed to her injuries. On the other hand, MARTA described the incident as a “senseless act of violence,” in an official statement further extending its thoughts to the victim’s loved ones and the witnesses of the “horrific incident.”
This is Margaret Swan, the 66 yr old Great Grand Mother that was murdered on a MARTA train in Atlanta 2 days ago.
Racist are using her death all over X to spew hate against other Black people.
Let’s honor her precious life the right way. 😢 pic.twitter.com/GdwoGoLIHp
— BlackSword (@Blacksword011) June 2, 2026
The agency said investigators are examining the case. So far, they have not identified what led up to the attack or whether Swan and Matthews knew each other.
Meanwhile, another report by the New York Post suggests that the alleged attacker stabbed the elderly woman 18 to 20 times with the knife. Reacting to the incident, Swan’s 46-year-old daughter, Shanae Sams, argued that the free access to riders doesn’t match the adequate security measures at stations. She pointed out the massive security lapse, inadequate policing, and a free-fare policy that she believes resulted in the heinous crime.
🚨Graphic Footage:
Woman fatally stabbed in random unprovoked attack on Atlanta MARTA train at Oakland City Station May 30 around noon.
Suspect arrested immediately by MARTA police at the scene.
Victim died despite aid from officers and medics.
Second MARTA stabbing in under…
— Don Keith (@RealDonKeith) May 31, 2026
She said, “To me, it’s negligence with the security and the patrolling,” further pointing out free access to riders in the wake of reconstruction across the transport system. Per Sams, the whole situation could’ve been avoided before adding, “Anybody has access to get on and off the trains.” She argued that if the travel was made free, police patrolling was negligent and there was a serious security gap.
🚨#BREAKING: Police have identified the man who st*bbed a woman to de*th on a public train in Atlanta.
His name is John Elijah Matthews, a Black male.
66-year-old Margaret Swan was sitting alone in the train car when Matthews walked up to her and st*bbed her in the throat in… pic.twitter.com/7xcX258W8N
— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) June 1, 2026
According to a warrant obtained by 11 Alive, surveillance footage shows the victim sitting alone on the train around 11:20 a.m. The accused was hovering around her before allegedly pulling out a knife and slitting her throat. The report states that the elderly woman tried to flee, but investigators allege the suspect held her down and attacked her multiple times before leaving her brutally attacked on the ground in a bloodbath.
Sams claimed that her mother was screaming for help but “nobody was helping her.” Devastated by the tragic incident, the daughter stated that no words could explain the pain they are going through. She expressed her current state of mind as being “lost, confused, angry and scared.” She remarked that it was “just too much,” before questioning the security lapse.
According to the arrest warrant, after the fatal attack, Matthews allegedly pushed Swan’s body onto the floor and stood over her as the train pulled into Oakland City Station. Authorities said he was taken into custody on the platform while still holding a knife. He was reportedly taken into custody after fellow commuters described his clothing to the police.
The victim is said to be the mother of three, grandmother of five, and great-grandmother of four. Her daughter stated that it was hard to accept the incident while describing the victim as the “rock” of their family. She stated that her mother was an affectionate person with a helping nature and no “bad bone” in her body.









