Arrest made in slaying of teen after Peach Drop

The youth was on his way home after watching the Peach Drop with friends, his aunt, Lena Barnes, told the AJC. But the high school freshman never made it to the train. His family says he died after his throat was cut with a knife.

“The only thing we heard was that it was over a cell phone," Barnes said from the family's northwest Atlanta home.

Rueben apparently told a man repeatedly he didn't have his cell phone, but still the man followed the teen and two friends, Barnes said.

"He sliced him from behind, sliced his throat," Barnes said.

Collins faces aggravated assault charges for allegedly attacking Rueben's friends. He was arrested at the Highland Village apartments in the 3800 block of East Ponce De Leon Avenue in Clarkston.

The killing took place on the Peachtree Street side of the station, MARTA spokesman Lyle Harris told the AJC Saturday. "There were witnesses, and that's part of the investigation," Harris said. He would not confirm the manner of death.

A police report obtained by the AJC says the incident occurred outside the fare gates and that a MARTA officer who was doing crowd control learned of the incident at 12:21 a.m.

Chief Dunham said during the Monday evening news conference that Collins was identified by witnesses and with the help of video surveillance camera recordings.

"We knew who we were looking for," she said. "We just had to put a name with the face."

Despite what Rueben's relatives said, Dunham would not discuss a motive in the killing, saying the investigation was ongoing. She did say that Collins did not know his victim and that the attack was a "random act."

Dunham said MARTA officers were out in full force on New Year's Eve to protect passengers.

Collins has a felony record. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for an attempted burglary in Colquitt County and to one year for criminal interference with government property. He was released in 2006.

Rueben's mother got a phone call around 12:15 a.m. from one of her son's friends telling her the news about the attack. Deunya Taylor didn't even know her youngest child had gone downtown.

It was uncharacteristic for Rueben not to tell his mother where he was going, Barnes said. But her nephew had an adventurous side and was full of energy.

"He was a very fun kid," Barnes said.

Rueben, who attended Douglass High School, loved sports and played football as a child.

"They have brought a tragedy to this family," Barnes said. "He was the baby."

-- Larry Hartstein contributed to this report.