A Georgia man accused of fatally stabbing a 66-year-old great-grandmother on an Atlanta transit train now faces a federal charge that could make him eligible for the death penalty, federal prosecutors announced.
John Elijah Matthews, 25, of Decatur, Georgia, was charged in a federal criminal complaint with committing an act of violence using a dangerous weapon with intent to cause death on a mass transportation system, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will determine whether the government will seek the death penalty if Matthews is convicted, prosecutors said.
The victim, Margaret Swan, 66, was described by U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg as a "beloved great-grandmother" who was killed in "an unprovoked act of senseless violence."
The attack occurred around 11:25 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, while Swan was riding a northbound MARTA train from the Lakewood station toward Oakland City Station, according to a Fulton County arrest warrant affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital.
The affidavit, sworn by MARTA Police Detective Douglas Burn, describes the sequence of events in close detail. Matthews boarded Train Car 134 at 11:24:59 a.m., wearing glasses, an orange T-shirt, dark gray pants, white socks, and black slides. Swan had boarded the same car several minutes earlier, at 11:21:46 a.m., and was sitting alone.
Surveillance video allegedly showed Matthews walk toward Swan and position himself near her. At 11:25:18 a.m. he allegedly moved closer and stood just to her right. Eight seconds later, at 11:25:26 a.m., he allegedly reached into his right front pants pocket, pulled out a knife, and opened it.
At 11:25:32 a.m., Matthews allegedly sliced Swan's throat with his right hand while holding her head, according to the affidavit. Swan screamed and attempted to get up from her seat. Matthews allegedly held her right arm and stabbed her approximately 18 to 20 times in the chest and neck area as she tried to defend herself.
Other passengers fled the car and called for help. At least one passenger confirmed to prosecutors that Swan had no interaction with Matthews before the attack.
After the stabbing, Matthews allegedly threw Swan to the floor and stood near her until the train reached Oakland City Station at 11:27:05 a.m. He then allegedly exited the train with the knife still in his hand and walked toward the north end of the platform. MARTA police officers arrived moments later and moved to apprehend him.
The case now moves to federal court, where prosecutors will await Blanche's decision on whether to pursue the death penalty.
