ATLANTA — Police have arrested a 30-year-old man in connection to a shooting near the Lindbergh MARTA station.
It's the latest in a total of 18 shootings the MARTA Police Department said it responded to this year across all its stations in metro Atlanta. Two shootings were off of the property. There was also a deadly stabbing at the beginning of the year.
This added to growing concerns some riders have about safety.
A spokesperson for Marta Police said hundreds of officers patrol the stations 24/7, sometimes undercover. MARTA rider Issa Simbaco said she's not seeing it.
"There's only security at the top. Like, it would be nice if somebody would be manning here as well," Simbaco said.
James Nance said he rides nearly every day.
"When there's an event going, like, maybe a football game or something, there are police there, but if there are no events, there are no police," Nance said.
Sunday's shooting felt like one of many for Simbaco.
"You see things, here, and there, when you're in the station. And sometimes, you're not even surprised because it feels like a norm," Simbaco said.
11Alive covered at least nine of the 18 shootings.
- On Nov. 1, one person was shot at the West End MARTA location.
- In August, Demarcus Mathis, 45, was shot and killed at the MARTA Arts Center station.
- Back on July 16, a 20-year-old man was shot multiple times at the Candler Park MARTA station.
- In May, Jah-Malik Morcano, 23, was shot dead at the GWCC/CNN Center station and a 16-year-old was shot at the East Point MARTA location.
- On March 8, a man was shot at the MARTA Five Points station. Then, on March 6, one person was shot at the College Park location.
- On Jan. 8, Marcus Harris, 42, was stabbed to death at the Five Points MARTA station.
A MARTA Police representative said these shootings tend to happen when people are trying to resolve disputes on their own, escalating to violence. They encourage riders to contact the police.
Simbaco's friend, Tobi Carew, was visiting Atlanta for the first time from Canada on Monday. Both said they didn't see a police increase, even after the shooting.
"Maybe, like, once a week," Simbaco said.
"I've been here for, like, five days, and I don't think I've ever seen one," Carew added.
Nance said he's hoping to see more police inside the trains.
"If there's no police presence there, anything can happen," Nance said.
On Monday, 11Alive noticed that a gate was open for hours until an employee was altered.
MARTA Police issued this statement in response to riders' concerns:
MARTA is among the safest transit systems in the country with thousands of cameras throughout the entire system.
MPD is always available to assist you during your trip. You can contact MPD by downloading MARTA's See & Say App, which allows you to anonymously report crimes and suspicious activity. You can send photos and short videos and chat directly with our Dispatchers. You can also use the blue and white phones in the stations to contact MPD or call 404-848-4911.