The family of Margaret Swan, 66, who was stabbed to death on an Atlanta MARTA train, said her death was preventable. Swann was reportedly murdered in an unprovoked attack, and her family said they would never forgive the man accused of killing her. The suspect has been identified as 25 years old John Elijah Matthews.
“You took away an aunt, a mother, a cousin, a sister, a niece. You took away someone’s family because you were selfish. It’s unforgettable,” Swann’s daughter Shanae Sams said, according to WRDW.
“You took our stone, you took a gem”
The arrest warrant said Swann was stabbed 18 to 20 times on a train near the Oakland City station. Her family said they did not know Matthews.
“She was an amazing mom. It’s inexcusable that he did this. I will not forgive him, I will never forgive him,” said Swann’s daughter Tiara Sams.
“I have something to tell him: You are a weak, pathetic coward,” said Swann’s granddaughter Lakita Wooten.
“You took our stone, you took a gem,” Shanna added.
Shanae calls for more police to ride MARTA trains. Hundreds of thousands of tourists are expected to use MARTA during the FIFA World Cup, but Shanae questions the safety the transit system provides.
“People are more worried about the World Cup. But what happens before the World Cup? What happens after the World Cup?” Shana said. “What if the World Cup doesn’t happen here? These women have no protection at all and that’s sad.”
Shanna said she believed Swann had no chance to react.
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“You know everyone says to protect yourself, but my mom got protective over her,” she said, according to 11Alive. “It was such a sudden act. She didn’t even have time to try and protect herself.”
Shanna said her mother was armed with a knife but was unable to defend herself because the attack was too sudden.
“Everyone looked at it, but no one helped her,” she said.
The family raised questions about the safety and security of the entire transportation system.
“We can keep telling women to be aware of their surroundings, but this is negligence, this is safety negligence,” Shana said. “Because there is no safety. There is no one protecting the train.”
“If the police had been on the train, this wouldn’t have happened,” she added. “It shouldn’t be police patrols at certain stations. It should be police patrols at all stations.”
What happened
Swann, a mother of three, grandmother of five and great-grandmother of four, was sitting alone on the train around 11:20 a.m. when Matthews allegedly pulled out a knife and slit her throat, according to an arrest warrant obtained by 11Alive. Swann screamed and tried to run away, but Matthews allegedly held her down and stabbed her 18 to 20 more times.
“There are no words to explain what we are feeling right now. We are all lost, confused, angry and scared. It is just too much. Why is there no safety? Why is no one trying to stop this from happening?” Shana said.
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After the attack, Matthews threw Swann’s lifeless body to the floor and stood over her. The train then pulled into Oakland City Station and he was caught on the platform, brandishing a knife, the warrant said. He was subsequently arrested.
Matthews is being held at the Fulton County Jail facing one charge Felony According to the New York Post, it was a murder. According to reports, he homeless.
“I hope they put him in an isolation room with a metal bed and let my mom haunt him until the day he dies,” Shanna said.
“That’s how I feel. You took an innocent person, you took someone who meant no harm to you,” she added.
Marta, meanwhile, said in a statement to the New York Post, “This is a senseless and heartbreaking loss.”
It added that thousands of employees, 280 sworn officers and 30 field specialists are tasked with protecting passengers every day.
The statement added: “Our condolences and deepest sympathies are with Margaret Swann’s loved ones at this extremely difficult time. We are committed to doing everything we can to protect our customers and employees and respond quickly when incidents occur.”
