Orlando Woman Accused of Stabbing Rampage at Atlanta Airport Prepares for Court Battle

A woman accused in a violent stabbing spree at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is facing another day in court. Damaris Milton, 44, from Orlando, is set to rigorously prepare her defense for the upcoming Feb. 5, 2024, court date after her second hearing passed without her presence. Milton faces four counts of aggravated assault after the October 11th incident which left a cab driver, a police officer, and one other person injured.

According to reports by Atlanta News First, the suspect allegedly initiated the assault in a taxi en route to the airport, stabbing driver Selemon Melkamu. She then continued her unrest inside the terminal where she reportedly swiped at a Delta employee with a knife.

Officers on the scene were forced to respond with a Taser and pepper spray, both of which failed to subdue Milton "The Taser deployed and hit the pants legs. Since Ms. Milton wore multiple pants legs, the Taser did not make contact in the skin,” detailed the incident report. Following this, a lieutenant inadvertently slipped on the pepper spray solution, subsequently allowing Milton to stab him in the leg before she was tackled and disarmed by another officer.

All victims from the incident have since been reported to have sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at local hospitals. The first court appearance for Milton saw her bond denied by the presiding judge. During this confrontation, she responded to inquiries about her need for a public defender with a dismissive attitude, as captured by FOX 5 Atlanta, saying, "Y’all already said what y’all are going to do to me, why am I answering any questions?" 

Milton is currently confined at Clayton County Jail.