John Elijah Matthews Faces Federal Charge in 66-Year-Old's MARTA Killing, Death Penalty Possible
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 2
John Elijah Matthews Faces Federal Charge in 66-Year-Old's MARTA Killing, Death Penalty Possible
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 2
Federal prosecutors charged 25-year-old John Elijah Matthews with a violent knife attack on a mass transportation system, a count that could bring life in prison or the death penalty in the killing of 66-year-old Margaret Swan.
Surveillance and a MARTA police affidavit say Matthews boarded the train at 11:24:59 a.m., approached Swan seconds later, cut her throat and stabbed her about 18 to 20 times as the train neared Oakland City Station.
Passengers fled and called for help, and officers arrested Matthews on the platform moments after the train arrived, allegedly finding a bloody folding knife and blood on his clothes.
Matthews remains in local custody, is also charged in Fulton County with felony murder, and will appear in federal court as the FBI and MARTA police continue investigating the attack's implications for transit safety.