Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is demanding answers from Atlanta’s mass transit system after a great-grandmother was killed with the perpetrator stabbing her 20 times in a random attack on a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) train.

“This is Margaret Swan, a great-grandmother stabbed to death 20 TIMES in a random attack in the middle of the day on Atlanta’s public transit. Her murder was the second horrific attack on MARTA in a week. I want ANSWERS from Atlanta. The number of assaults, robberies, and rapes on MARTA’s trains is MORE THAN THREE TIMES the national average,” Duffy said. 

Duffy demanded MARTA provide figures on security spending, safety plans, as well as action items to prevent crime and fare evasion from passengers. “Margaret’s family DESERVES ACCOUNTABILITY. No one should be forced to fear for their safety on public transit,” he added. 

66-year-old Margaret Swan was stabbed to death while riding between the Lakewood-Fort McPherson and Oakland City stations. Officials with MARTA described the stabbing as a “senseless act of violence.”

John Elijah Matthews, 25, has been charged with her murder. Security footage showed her sitting alone on the MARTA train at around 11:25 am when Matthews approached her, pulled out a knife, and began slashing her throat. Although she tried to flee, Matthews was seen restraining her and continued to stab her, and then threw her body on the ground. 

Swan died at the scene, and police later took Matthews into custody. The stabbing of Swan is the second one that has taken place in the last two weeks. On Sunday, May 24, a man was stabbed multiple times, but had non-life-threatening injuries.