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

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DISTURBING CONTENT WARNING:

A Georgia man accused of fatally stabbing a 66-year-old great-grandmother in an unprovoked attack aboard an Atlanta MARTA train is now facing a federal charge that could make him eligible for life in prison or the death penalty, federal prosecutors said.

John Elijah Matthews, 25, of Decatur, Georgia, was charged in a federal criminal complaint with committing an act of violence using a dangerous weapon with intent to cause death on a mass transportation system, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will determine whether the government will seek the death penalty if Matthews is convicted, prosecutors said.

The victim, identified by federal officials as Margaret Swan, 66, was described by U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg as a “beloved great-grandmother” who was killed in “an unprovoked act of senseless violence.”

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

The deadly attack unfolded around 11:25 a.m. Saturday, May 30, while Swan was riding a northbound MARTA train from the Lakewood station toward Oakland City Station, according to prosecutors and a Fulton County arrest warrant affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital.

The affidavit, sworn by MARTA Police Detective Douglas Burn, alleges Matthews boarded Train Car 134 at 11:24:59 a.m., wearing glasses, an orange T-shirt with writing on the front, dark gray pants, white socks and black slides. Swan had boarded the same train car minutes earlier, at 11:21:46 a.m., and was sitting alone, according to the affidavit.

Surveillance video allegedly showed Matthews walk to the side of the train where Swan was seated and stand near her.

At 11:25:18 a.m., he allegedly moved closer and stood just to her right. Eight seconds later, at 11:25:26 a.m., he allegedly reached into his right front pants pocket, pulled out a knife and opened it, the affidavit states.

At 11:25:32 a.m., Matthews allegedly sliced Swan’s throat with his right hand while holding her head, according to the affidavit. Swan screamed and tried to get up from her seat, but Matthews allegedly held onto her right arm and stabbed her approximately 18 to 20 times, the affidavit says.

Federal prosecutors said surveillance video showed Matthews stabbing Swan approximately 18 to 20 times in the chest and neck area as she tried to defend herself.

Other passengers fled and called for help, and at least one passenger confirmed Swan had no interaction with Matthews before the attack, prosecutors said.

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

The affidavit says Matthews then threw Swan to the floor and stood near her until the train arrived at Oakland City Station at 11:27:05 a.m.

He then allegedly exited the train with the knife in his right hand and walked toward the north end of the platform.

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MARTA police officers arrived moments later and rushed to apprehend him, according to the affidavit.

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

Bolton allegedly saw Matthews holding a knife near the north end of the platform and ordered him to turn over. Matthews allegedly did not comply and was taken into custody after another officer arrived, the affidavit says.

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

Prosecutors said Matthews was allegedly found with a bloody folding knife and had blood on his clothes. The affidavit says that Matthews “did not have an address currently” and that he advised he did not have a phone number currently.

First responders attempted emergency medical aid, but Swan was pronounced dead at the scene.

The affidavit says the Fulton County Medical Examiner arrived at the scene at 1:45 p.m. and recorded Swan’s time of death as 2 p.m.

WATCH: Atlanta train riders on edge after deadly stabbing

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Matthews remains in local custody and will appear in federal court. The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Police Department.

“This crime also impacts everyone who relies on mass transportation to move about their daily lives. Using Atlanta’s train system should be safe and free of violence,” said Marlo Graham, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta.

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

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Trump-backed candidate ‘confident’ Republicans will have great night in California: ‘Very excited’

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Trump-backed Republican Steve Hilton expressed confidence Tuesday as California Republicans fight to avoid being shut out of the governor’s race under the state’s unique “jungle-primary” system.

Hilton is one of two main Republicans in the race, alongside Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.

After Hilton received President Donald Trump’s endorsement, his neck-and-neck position with Bianco became a lead, but as the election neared, concern arose that two Democrats may outdo he and the sheriff – leaving no Republican on the ballot,

“I’m very excited that it looks like we’re going to have a good night tonight,” Hilton said.

“I think the president’s endorsement has been a great honor. The vice president endorsed me this morning. What an incredible thing for someone who’s a new American citizen,” the former Fox News host – a native of Great Britain – added.

Hilton portended a good night regardless of Bianco’s decision to stay in the race.

“I think everyone in California understands we need change,” he said.

Hilton said California Republicans – of which there are more numerically than any other state – are energized and that the early ballot returns depict such.

“I’m pretty confident that we are going to do fine one way or the other.”

The mood extended beyond the governor’s race. In Los Angeles, independent mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt spent Election Day courting voters in neighborhoods Republicans and independents increasingly see as receptive to change.

Pratt was spotted at the famed Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles, mingling with voters at the soul food establishment – and also seen in another clip hosting a cookout in a park in a majority-minority community.

With Gov. Gavin Newsom term-limited and Mayor Karen Bass under fire for her handling of crime, homelessness and the Palisades fires, Republicans and Pratt see an opportunity for marked change in California.

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger – who like Hilton is an immigrant and Republican – was the last member of the Grand Old Party to hold court in Sacramento.

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Kristin Cavallari had two great dates with an A-lister before he ruined the mood by whipping his junk out

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What do you do after letting loose and putting on what one of the sharpest eyes for talent around described as a dominant performance during Miami Swim Week? If you’re Kristin Cavallari, you share that story about the time you went on a couple of dates with an A-lister, and he took his junk out in front of you.

That’s going to get people talking. The reality star turned podcaster, and sometimes bikini model, said during the latest episode of her “Let’s Be” Honest podcast that she went on two dates at the Sunset Tower Hotel and the Beverly Hills Hotel roughly four years ago “with a very famous man.”

He turned out to be a very famous man with a bizarre go-to move of exposing himself to his dates. The dates up to that point were solid, according to Kristin. She said, reports Page Six, “[They were] two really great dates, honestly two of the best dates of my life.”

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Those are the expected results of a couple of hotel dates with an A-lister, am I right? For the second date, she explained how the two of them “got a suite, swam all day, took showers separately and ate dinner on the patio,” as one does on a second date.

Then the unnamed famous man brought up insecurities people have about their body that they want to overcome when they start dating someone new. She didn’t know it when the conversation started, but this was step one of this very famous man showing her his penis.

“‘I have a mole on my d–k. It’s not like that bad, but it’s noticeable. Can I just show it to you?'” she says he asked. “So he pulls out his d–k, first time I’ve seen it. I don’t see anything. I think he said it was more flesh-colored, like a white mole.”

This “look at my mole on my junk” trick didn’t work on Kristin. She says that despite it being in her face, she didn’t do anything involving his member. He swung and missed with what she decided must be his move to get his junk out in front of women.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

“You know that’s what he does,” she said after thinking back on the moment and letting out, “Put it away, f–king weirdo.”

That would have been wise advice for Mr. A-lister prior to the second date. Now that he’s already exposed himself, he left the door open and his pants down for what Kristin had to say next.

“This is mean, but I think he’s kind of known for having a big d–k and it wasn’t that big and I think that’s what the insecurity was really about,” she revealed.

“Can I be honest with you? Changing out of his swimsuit, he had the flattest ass and horrible bacne scars. We’ve got bigger fish to fry, buddy. [That’s] one of the biggest f–king turnoffs.”

A bullet dodged as far as she’s concerned. The unceremonious ending after two dates with a very famous man whom she hasn’t ever named publicly was, in the end, a good thing.

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Jordan Love says he was ‘shocked’ by Josh Jacobs’ arrest on domestic violence charges during OTAs

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Even with his exceptional vision on the field, Jordan Love didn’t see one teammate’s arrest controversy coming.

The Packers quarterback addressed the situation surrounding running back Josh Jacobs for the first time publicly during OTAs on Tuesday, admitting he was caught off guard by news of Jacobs’ arrest last month.

Jacobs was booked into the Brown County Jail on May 26 following a police response to a domestic disturbance complaint.

The Pro Bowl tailback faces five charges, including a felony count of strangulation and suffocation, along with misdemeanor counts of battery, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct and intimidation of a victim.

GREEN BAY PACKERS PRO BOWL RB JOSH JACOBS ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE DOMESTIC ABUSE CHARGES

His legal team has strongly denied the allegations, asking for “fairness and restraint.”

Against that backdrop, Love admitted the news initially stunned him.

“There’s always questions,” Love told reporters about his immediate reaction. “I was shocked when I saw it.”

DISPATCH AUDIO REVEALS WHAT WAS HEARD INSIDE JOSH JACOBS’ HOME BEFORE ALLEGED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARREST

Jacobs was released from custody on May 27 and has since returned to the field for OTAs while the District Attorney’s Office reviews the evidence before making a formal charging decision.

Love acknowledged there are still plenty of unknowns surrounding the situation as the legal process continues to play out.

“But like I said, we’re just going to let it play out.

HENRY RUGGS TRAINING IN PRISON FOR POTENTIAL NFL RETURN, EX-RAIDERS TEAMMATE SAYS

“There’s a lot of uncertainty when you hear something like that, of what might happen. But we’ll see, we’ll let it play out and go from there.”

While the organization has largely stayed quiet publicly, Love said conversations have taken place internally.

“Yeah, we’ve talked internally,” Love said. “Everyone knows what the situation is there. We’ve talked, but obviously the details, everyone’s keeping that under wraps right now, out of respect for the situation and obviously all the legal stuff that’s going to be playing out.”

Despite the uncertainty, Love said it has been business as usual with Jacobs back on the practice field alongside his teammates.

“But it’s great to have Josh here with us, being able to work with us and getting back to work,” he added. “But yeah, kind of everybody’s just waiting and letting it play out on its own.”

For now, Love and the Packers are waiting to see what happens next.

Send us your thoughts: [email protected] / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela 

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