Thomas Scantlings was taken into custody as a suspect for the Sept hammer attack. Unsurprisingly, he is schizophrenic and has a history of violent behavior.

After receiving a tip call from the suspect's mother, Toni Frazier, police picked up 26-year-old Thomas Scantling at a mental institution in Belmont at about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday. Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said Scantling has been charged with aggravated assault and related offenses in the attack of a SEPTA passenger in the early morning hours of September 4.

Scantling's family members said they had him committed hours after the incident occurred, but they had no idea he was involved until the video surfaced. The suspect's aunt said they have been trying to get him help for years. "He's not sane," she said. Scantling's mother told CBS 3 he is schizophrenic and needs help. Hours before the attack, Mrs. Frazier said she tried to convince her son he was hallucinating when he told her he thought two men were following him. It is the same thing he told his little boy just minutes before pulling out the hammer and attacking the sleeping rider.

In a card written shortly after the attack, Scantling wrote in part about his son. A portion of the card read: "I am sorry he had to experience some of the things he did that night. But my intentions were good, believe me. I love you all. Keep me in your prayers."

"Thomas is not a bad person, he's not a vicious person, it is his mind," said a tearful Frazier. Commissioner Ramsey said Scantling has a history of robbery, rape, aggravated assault and narcotics violations. He was officially charged with attempted murder in this crime Wednesday. "When you look at his criminal history, and if he did suffer from mental illness, why is he out among us," Ramsey said. "I don't care, keep him off the street." (source)

First Soulja Girl on the Marta train, now this. You're better off riding a bicycle to work. I'm glad they caught the culprit and I hope they keep him in a mental hospital because he's clearly unstable and a threat to himself and others. I hate to think about how his little boy will turn out after having witness such foolishness from his father.

However, I was irritated with his mom saying "it's just his mind." I understand all that, but tell that to the women he's raped and that poor boy he tried to kill. At some point you have to stop making excuses for people. This man is a walking terrorist and he needs to be put under the jail. And I want him to undergo a psychiatric evaluation before they label him schizophrenic to make sure it is indeed true. I'm tired of everyone getting caught blaming it on a "mental illness." If this is the case, we need stricter laws to protect us from these people!