Suspect ID’d in Mac­Arthur BART stabbing

BART officials have identified 27-year-old John Cowell as a suspect being sought after the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Nia Wilson at MacArthur station in Oakland on Sunday night.

Photos have been released of John Cowell, the suspect in the stabbing that killed Wilson and injured her sister on the station platform as they departed a train shortly before 9:45 p.m.

Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene, while her sister was taken to a hospital to be treated for her injuries.

Investigators said it appears Cowell and the victims boarded a train at the Concord station and got off at MacArthur.

Cowell is described as about 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing about 190 pounds with short, dark hair and a closely cropped beard and mustache. He should be considered dangerous and anyone who sees him should call 911, BART officials said.

The three photos released by the transit agency of the suspect include one from a recent interaction last week with a BART officer recorded by the officer’s body-worn camera, a previous booking photo of him, and surveillance footage from Sunday night, according to BART.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call BART police at (510) 464-7011.