Man charged with murder after stabbing on Atlanta train

A 25-year-old man has been charged with murder after police say he fatally stabbed a woman in an apparently random attack aboard a commuter train in Atlanta on Saturday. The victim was identified as 66-year-old Margaret Swan.

John Elijah Matthews was arrested moments after he stepped off a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) train at the Oakland City Station around noon, according to MARTA Police Chief Scott Kreher. First responders attempted to resuscitate Swan at the scene, but she was pronounced dead.

An arrest warrant obtained by authorities details a chilling sequence of events captured on security footage. The video shows Swan sitting alone in a train car shortly before the attack. Matthews is seen boarding the train, walking to her side, and standing near her. According to the warrant, he then pulled a small pocket knife from his pants, grabbed Swan by the head, and cut her throat. As she screamed and tried to rise, he allegedly held her and stabbed her approximately 18 to 20 times before throwing her to the floor. Matthews then stood beside her until the train arrived at Oakland City Station less than two minutes later.