Trump administration launches federal investigation into Atlanta's MARTA system after fatal train stabbing

The Trump medication is launching a national probe into Atlanta’s troubled transit strategy aft 2 caller stabbings, including the sidesplitting of a 66-year-old pistillate connected a MARTA train.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Federal Transit Administration volition audit the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) implicit idiosyncratic and rider safety, citing what officials described arsenic alarming rates of convulsive incidents connected the system.

"I privation ANSWERS from Atlanta. The fig of assaults, robberies, and rapes connected MARTA’s trains is MORE THAN THREE TIMES the nationalist average," Duffy wrote successful a Thursday X post.

The probe follows the execution of 66-year-old Margaret Swan, a great-grandmother, who was repeatedly stabbed to decease connected an Atlanta bid allegedly by a stateless man.

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John Elijah Matthews faces a national complaint of committing an enactment of unit causing decease connected a wide proscription system, aft helium allegedly murdered 66-year-old Margaret Swan aboard a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) train. (@SecDuffy/X)

"Margaret’s household DESERVES ACCOUNTABILITY. No 1 should beryllium forced to fearfulness for their information connected nationalist transit," Duffy said.

In a June 3 missive to MARTA Interim CEO Jonathan Hunt, the FTA said the audit volition analyse whether the bureau has decently implemented its information plan, including measures to forestall assaults connected transit workers and support passengers.

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The bureau said MARTA reported 1 of lone 2 transit-worker battle fatalities nationwide successful fiscal twelvemonth 2025 and that its complaint of superior personal-security incidents has been astir doubly the nationalist mean since fiscal twelvemonth 2024.

The national reappraisal volition besides scrutinize MARTA’s plans to trim transgression and fare evasion, arsenic good arsenic however it has spent national and different funds meant to amended information for passengers and workers.

Duffy said that MARTA has 15 days to crook implicit information plans, battle reports, grooming records and different documents requested by investigators.

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The probe follows 2 stabbing attacks connected MARTA property, including the fatal onslaught connected the 66-year-old pistillate and different stabbing days earlier astatine a station.

In the caller Swan execution connected Saturday, John Elijah Matthews, 25, of Decatur, Georgia, was charged successful a national transgression ailment with committing an enactment of unit utilizing a unsafe limb with intent to origin decease connected a wide proscription system, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

He is besides charged locally with felony murder, according to Fulton County records.

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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche volition find whether the authorities volition question the decease punishment if Matthews is convicted, prosecutors said.

Surveillance footage captured the unprovoked onslaught wrong a moving bid car earlier MARTA constabulary officers arrested the equipped fishy connected the presumption platform. (MARTA)

The deadly onslaught unfolded astir 11:25 a.m. Saturday, May 30, portion Swan was riding a northbound MARTA bid from the Lakewood Station toward Oakland City Station, according to prosecutors and a Fulton County apprehension warrant affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital.

The affidavit, sworn by MARTA Police Detective Douglas Burn, alleges Matthews boarded Train Car 134 astatine 11:24:59 a.m., wearing glasses, an orangish T-shirt with penning connected the front, acheronian grey pants, achromatic socks and achromatic slides. Swan had boarded the aforesaid bid car minutes earlier, astatine 11:21:46 a.m., and was sitting alone, according to the affidavit.

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Surveillance video allegedly showed Matthews locomotion to the broadside of the bid wherever Swan was seated and basal adjacent her.

At 11:25:18 a.m., helium allegedly moved person and stood conscionable to her right. Eight seconds later, astatine 11:25:26 a.m., helium allegedly reached into his close beforehand pants pocket, pulled retired a weapon and opened it, the affidavit states.

At 11:25:32 a.m., Matthews allegedly sliced Swan’s pharynx with his close manus portion holding her head, according to the affidavit. Swan screamed and tried to get up from her seat, but Matthews allegedly held onto her close limb and stabbed her astir 18 to 20 times, the affidavit says.

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Federal prosecutors said surveillance video showed Matthews stabbing Swan astir 18 to 20 times successful the thorax and cervix country arsenic she tried to support herself.

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Other passengers fled and called for help, and astatine slightest 1 rider confirmed Swan had nary enactment with Matthews earlier the attack, prosecutors said.

The affidavit says Matthews past threw Swan to the level and stood adjacent her until the bid arrived astatine Oakland City Station astatine 11:27:05 a.m.

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John Elijah Matthews allegedly began the onslaught by cutting the pharynx of the victim, identified arsenic Margaret Swan, conscionable seconds aft helium walked up adjacent to wherever she was sitting connected a bid approaching the Oakland City MARTA station. (Fulton County Sheriff's Office)

He past allegedly exited the bid with the weapon successful his close manus and walked toward the northbound extremity of the platform.

MARTA constabulary officers arrived moments aboriginal and rushed to apprehend him, according to the affidavit.

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Bolton, who was patrolling the Oakland City Station concourse, heard a commotion connected the level and saw patrons pointing toward Matthews, according to the affidavit.

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Bolton allegedly saw Matthews holding a weapon adjacent the northbound extremity of the level and ordered him to crook over. Matthews allegedly did not comply and was taken into custody aft different serviceman arrived, the affidavit says.

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Prosecutors said Matthews was allegedly recovered with a bloody folding weapon and had humor connected his clothes. The affidavit says that Matthews "did not person an code currently" and that helium advised helium did not person a telephone fig currently.

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First responders attempted exigency aesculapian aid, but Swan was pronounced dormant astatine the scene.

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The affidavit says the Fulton County Medical Examiner arrived astatine the country astatine 1:45 p.m. and recorded Swan’s clip of decease arsenic 2 p.m.

Fox News Digital has reached retired to MARTA and the Fulton County Sheriff's Office for further information.