ATLANTA — Police are investigating after a 23-year-old man was shot and killed inside of a MARTA train car in Atlanta on Thursday afternoon. The Fulton County Medical Examiner identified the man as Jah-Malik Marcano on Friday.
MARTA Police said they responded to the GWCC/CNN Center Station around 5:45 p.m. for a call of a person shot on the eastbound Blue Line train. The train was heading from H.E. Holmes.
When officers got there, they tried to render first aid to Marcano, but he ultimately died. Police said they are still searching for the suspect.
MPD said it is not releasing details on the suspect at this time, saying it would jeopardize the investigation. It said it provided a picture of the suspect to MPD officers, protective specialists, and police communications center employees.
MPD told 11Alive that police and protective specialists are searching for him during daily patrols. It added that the MARTA Police Department has more than 250 officers and protective specialists patrolling the system and employees monitoring the CCTV cameras.
MPD encourages people to use the See & Say App or call 404-848-4911 if they notice any suspicious activity.
The GWCC/CNN Center Station is the stop for Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena and the Georgia World Congress Center.
For reference, you can see where the station is along the MARTA map below:
MARTA Police said this deadly shooting marks their second homicide since the first of the year. MPD also confirmed, since 2018, this is the first homicide to happen on a train.
According to the police department's statistics on crime going back five years, homicide was up in 2023 from years past.
MARTA PD provided the following stats relating to homicides since 2018.
- 0 in 2018
- 0 in 2019
- 2 in 2020
- 2 in 2021
- 2 in 2022
- 5 in 2023
According to MARTA Police statistics, every crime category was down in 2023, including the following:
- Rape/Attack - 33%
- Aggravated Att - 27%
- Larceny from Auto - 45%
- Larceny from other - 29%
- Burglary - 100%
The following crimes were up in 2023:
- Robbery: +5%
- Auto Theft/Attempts: +213%
- Arson: +100%
MARTA said overall crime at MARTA properties in 2023 was down 6%.
MARTA is currently single-tracking between Five Points and Vine City stations, police said.