Fellow riders didn’t help a 66-year-old woman who was fatally stabbed in a random attack on a MARTA train on Saturday morning.
Police say a homeless man slashed Margaret Swan’s throat and stabbed her 18-20 times on the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) train on May 30. Swan was killed on a train that traveled between the Lakewood-Fort McPherson and Oakland City stations.
Other passengers looked on but no one helped the grandmother as she bled out on the floor of the train. Emergency responders attempted to save Swan’s life, but she died at the scene from massive blood loss.
Police arrested John Elijah Matthews, 25, on the platform at Oakland City station. Cell phone video shows a masculine-identified woman threatening Matthews who is handcuffed on the platform.
Rail service is temporarily suspended at Oakland City.
A woman has been stabbed on MARTA. At least three witnesses say it was an unprovoked attack. The victim is either deceased or in critical condition. Suspect in custody. pic.twitter.com/nxTqFYm7ju
— ATLSCOOP (@ATL_SCOOP) May 30, 2026
Atlanta resident Shanae Sams said MARTA’s temporary free ride policy (for the upcoming World Cup) allows everyone to ride for free with little to no security in the MARTA stations.
“To me, it’s negligence with the security and the patrolling,” Sams told The New York Post Monday. She noted that renovations on the MARTA transit system means free rides for commuters.
“Anybody has access to get on and off the trains. If you’re allowing free stuff like that, for me, police patrolling was negligent, there was no security, there was nothing.”
She added, “The whole situation … could have been prevented.”
The City of Atlanta plans to flood MARTA stations with police officers for the World Cup. The City renovated train stations with bright lighting and fresh paint for out-of-town visitors.
Social media users complain about city officials sprucing up Atlanta for out-of-town visitors.
It's bright as hell in there now! ? pic.twitter.com/bPI7zNm5ur
— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) June 1, 2026
They’re trying too hard to force Atlanta as an international city and it’s going to be this city’s end.
— nija. (@majornija) June 1, 2026
stations need more security. LA Metro has security at every stop.
The city of Atlanta needs to lock up people longer with assault and mental health issues
— Marcus Matthews (@GaTechAlum_IE92) May 30, 2026