Georgia | Train killing suspect faces federal charge, possible death penalty

ATLANTA, Ga. — The man accused of stabbing and killing a 66-year-old woman on a MARTA train last Saturday has caught the attention of federal prosecutors.

John Elijah Matthews, 25, faces a federal charge of committing an act of violence causing death on a mass transportation station, the District Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia said on Tuesday. He was also charged with murder in Fulton County.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, locked in a political war of attrition with billionaire health care entrepreneur and executive Rick Jackson, said Tuesday he would consider placing Georgia “state troopers onboard if necessary” to ensure safety.

“A woman lost her life this weekend when a deranged homeless man stabbed her to death on MARTA,” Jones said. “Atlanta is hosting the World Cup this summer and this is an embarrassment and a tragedy. If elected Governor, I will take every step to make MARTA safe to ride, including deploying our state troopers onboard if necessary. This has to stop.”

On Saturday, Matthews allegedly attacked Margaret Swan unprovoked aboard a train near the Oakland City station. She was stabbed about 18 to 20 times and died, according to Matthews’ arrest warrant.

“Her loss deeply affects her family, friends, and our entire community,” U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said in a statement. “Atlantans and the many people who will soon visit for the FIFA World Cup deserve to travel free from fear of a violent attack. We will not tolerate murder and mayhem on MARTA, and anyone who uses a dangerous weapon to seriously injure or kill on public transportation may face swift and unrelenting federal prosecution.”

Swan didn’t know Matthews, according to her family. MARTA police said they arrested the suspect, who was carrying a bloody folding knife and wearing bloodstained clothing, about three minutes after the incident on the platform of the Oakland City station.

If convicted, Matthews faces the possibility of life in prison or the death penalty. The U.S. attorney general will decide if the government will seek the death penalty.

Swan’s family argues her death was preventable. One of her daughters, Shanae Sams, is calling for MARTA police officers to ride the trains instead of just patrolling the stations.

“People are more worried about the World Cup. But what happens before the World Cup? What happens after the World Cup?” she said. “What if the World Cup wasn’t coming here? There’s no protection for these women at all, and it’s sad.”

In a statement, MARTA said it has 280 officers to help protect riders.

“This was a senseless and heartbreaking loss. We mourn with Margaret Swan’s loved ones and extend our deepest sympathies during this incredibly difficult time,” a spokesperson said.

Source: wrdw.com, Staff, June 2, 2026

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."
— Oscar Wilde

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