Atlanta train stabbing suspect faces new charge as feds weigh death penalty in great-grandmother’s killing

DISTURBING CONTENT WARNING:

A Georgia antheral accused of fatally stabbing a 66-year-old great-grandmother successful an unprovoked onslaught aboard an Atlanta MARTA bid is present facing a national complaint that could marque him eligible for beingness successful situation oregon the decease penalty, national prosecutors said.

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.

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

The victim, identified by national officials arsenic Margaret Swan, 66, was described by U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg arsenic a "beloved great-grandmother" who was killed successful "an unprovoked enactment of senseless violence."

DISTURBING CONTENT WARNING: ILLEGAL ACCUSED OF KILLING GEORGIA GRANDMOTHER FACES NEW DISTURBING CHARGES

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)

The deadly onslaught unfolded astir 11:25 a.m. Saturday, May 30, portion Swan was riding a northbound MARTA bid from the Lakewood presumption 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.

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.

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.

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

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT RELEASED BY BIDEN ADMIN PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO MURDER OF GEORGIA GRANDMOTHER

The stabbing was reported astir 1:29 p.m. astatine the Georgia State MARTA station. (FOX 5 Atlanta)

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.

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

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

Officer 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.

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.

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

CHARLOTTE RESIDENTS SAY THEY FEEL LESS SAFE AS CITY FACES SECOND TRANSIT STABBING

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.

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

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.

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Matthews remains successful section custody and volition look successful national court. The lawsuit is being investigated by the FBI and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Police Department.

"This transgression besides impacts everyone who relies connected wide proscription to determination astir their regular lives. Using Atlanta’s bid strategy should beryllium harmless and escaped of violence," said Marlo Graham, peculiar cause successful complaint of FBI Atlanta.

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He is besides charged locally with felony murder, according to Fulton County records. Fox News Digital has reached retired to MARTA, the Fulton County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia for further information.