Woman fatally stabbed on MARTA train identified; man arrested.
The fatal stabbing of a 66-year-old woman on a MARTA train Saturday was a “completely random” attack, MARTA police Chief Scott Kreher said.
Atlanta’s Margaret Swan was identified as the victim by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office on Sunday.
John Elijah Matthews, 25, has been arrested and charged with murder in the incident, Kreher told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sunday. Fulton County Sheriff’s Office records show he was booked in the jail overnight.
Kreher said Matthews stabbed Swan on the train as it traveled between the Lakewood and the Oakland City stations. He was taken into custody at the Oakland City station.
Kreher said he isn’t aware of any prior incidents involving Matthews and the MARTA police.
“We believe it’s completely random,” the chief said.
Rail service at the Oakland City station was temporarily suspended just before noon because of police activity. MARTA spokesperson Stephany Fisher confirmed the victim was stabbed on a train at the station and was treated by emergency personnel before she was pronounced dead at the scene.
“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,” Fisher said.
The Oakland City station is on the red and gold lines between the West End and Lakewood-Fort McPherson stations.
MARTA police continued investigating the incident around 3 p.m., though service at the station had returned to normal. Information on a motive and what led to the stabbing was not immediately available.
“We understand the concern and fear incidents like this can cause for those who ride and work on the MARTA system,” Fisher added.
A month ago, a 16-year-old was fatally shot at the Oakland City bus loop. The incident was the year’s first homicide on MARTA property.
The day after the April 27 incident, MARTA said two suspects had been arrested and charged with murder in the death of Xavier Wright. At the time, the agency said it was still looking for two additional suspects.
Three individuals have since been arrested and charged in that case, Kreher confirmed. The chief had initially said four had been arrested.
Before that shooting, the last person killed on MARTA property was Leroy Ramos, a bus driver who was shot in January 2025 during a dispute over the $2.50 fare.
MARTA police statistics show reports of serious crimes — including homicide, robbery, aggravated assault and burglary — dropped by 26% last year compared with 2024, the AJC previously reported. There were five homicides in 2023 and again in 2024.
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