MARTA Police announced Monday that they have arrested a suspect in relation to a stabbing last month at Georgia State Station.
On May 24, the MARTA Police Department Communications Center received a report of a man, later identified as 40-year-old Xavier Clark, stabbed following a fight on the concourse level of Georgia State. Shortly after initiating the act of violence, the suspect fled the scene.
Weeks later, on the afternoon of June 15, members of MARTA’s Criminal Apprehension Team observed a man matching the description of the suspect at Vine City Station. The suspect was later taken into custody and identified as 36-year-old Quinton Sharp.
Sharp, who was found to be in possession of a knife at the time of his arrest, was transported to the Fulton County Jail and charged with counts of Aggravated Assault and Possession of a weapon during the Commission of a Felony. He has also been issued a permanent ban by the transit company.
Clark also has charges pending by MARTA for his participation in the fight.
The arrest comes after a string of violent incidents that have occurred on MARTA prior to the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which kicked off its first Atlanta match on Monday.
Earlier this month, Anthony Gresham, 42, was charged with three federal crimes after allegedly shooting a 17-year-old passenger on a MARTA train at the Midtown Station on June 5.
Shortly after stepping onto the train, Gresham allegedly pulled a handgun from his bag and fired three times in Easterling’s direction before fleeing from the station.
The victim sustained gunshot wounds to his left hand and left leg and was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital. Gresham was later apprehended by FBI agents and Douglas County law enforcement officers two days later.
In addition to Gresham’s detainment, federal charges were filed recently against Decatur resident John Elijah Matthews for his role in a May 30 attack at the Oakland City Station.
According to authorities, 66-year-old Margaret Swan was on a MARTA train traveling northbound from the Lakewood station to the Oakland City station when she encountered Matthews.
Video surveillance allegedly showed Matthews standing next to Swan by the train’s doors while the latter looked at her phone. At approximately 11:25 a.m., Matthews then reached into his pocket, pulled out a folding knife and proceeded to stab Swan approximately 20 times in the chest and neck area.
The incident led U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy to instruct the Federal Transit Administration to investigate MARTA, including the transit agency’s security spending, safety protocols and risks to riders and workers.
