ATLANTA- A shuttle bus manager who was stabbed and slashed by a homeless man at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is suing the City of Atlanta for negligence.
Kwan Lawrence accuses the city of allowing a previously banned individual back onto the property before the September 2024 knife attack.
The lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of Fulton County, claims the city failed to address years of security concerns tied to homeless individuals at the world’s busiest airport.
The issue mirrors problems at other major hubs, including Adolfo Suarez Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD) in Spain, where operators have tightened terminal access.
Shuttle Manager Files Lawsuit Against City of Atlanta
Kwan Lawrence, a Marietta resident and manager for the Airport Shuttle Group, had worked at Atlanta Airport for only 1 month before the sustained assault. The attack left him with a stab wound above his eye, a laceration across his nose, and a broken right wrist.
Lawrence now lives with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, migraines, and sleep disorders. His medical bills since the September 2024 assault have exceeded $80,000. He is seeking a jury trial and damages, including compensation for his medical treatment.
The recently filed lawsuit was lodged in the Superior Court of Fulton County, which covers Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson.
Lawrence’s attorney argues that the airport had faced a significant problem with homeless people coming to and being present at the facility without any purpose for being there, a situation that had lasted for several years.
The complaint alleges that homeless people were responsible for serious criminal activity on airport premises, including numerous assaults on passengers and employees.
The airport, owned by the City of Atlanta, did not take reasonable steps to prevent this activity, according to the filing. The lawsuit further claims the city knew the attacker had previously been banned from the airport yet still allowed him back onto the property.
How the September Attack Unfolded
The incident occurred around 4:00 AM on September 11, 2024, while Lawrence was on duty in the main terminal.
A female shuttle bus driver reported that a homeless person was riding her shuttle and acting in a hostile manner. The passenger was making lewd, sexually threatening comments toward the driver and other travelers.
Lawrence instructed the driver to return to the terminal, which she did immediately. When the bus pulled up, the man initially stepped off but continued his threatening remarks. Lawrence stood between the driver and the bus entrance and told the man he could not reboard.
The man then threatened to kill him and tried to force his way back on. When Lawrence blocked his path, the man pulled a knife, slashed him across the face, and stabbed him above the eye. Lawrence broke his right wrist during the struggle.
Lawrence was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital. The attacker fled the scene on foot but was found by police hiding in a nearby garbage can and taken into custody.
Officers identified him as 24-year-old Jacarie Seymour and recovered the knife at the scene. Seymour was charged with aggravated assault and criminal trespass and booked into the Clayton County Jail.
City Acts Only After the Assault
The City of Atlanta set up a task force to address homelessness at the airport only after this incident, according to the lawsuit.
The complaint states that the city knew or should have known that a significant number of violent crimes had been committed on airport premises linked to homeless people loitering and engaging in criminal activity.
It argues that the city was negligent in failing to protect passengers and employees despite being aware of the ongoing risk.
Growing Problem at Airports Worldwide
Atlanta Hartsfield is not the only airport dealing with a rise in homeless people using its facilities. As reported by PYOK, several major airports have taken strong measures to stop people from using terminals as shelter.
Adolfo Suarez Madrid Barajas Airport in Spain offers a clear example. Last May, the airport began stationing security guards at every terminal entrance and exit after the number of people sleeping there swelled to 500 per night.
Entry is now permitted only with a boarding pass, and travelers must say goodbye to loved ones at the entrance.
Spain’s state-owned airport operator Aena criticized the Madrid City Council for failing to help address the problem, accusing local officials of negligence.
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