In a shocking turn of events, multiple sources reported that on June 11, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia, a bus hijacking occurred resulting in one fatality and the arrest of the suspected gunman. The incident began around 4:30 p.m., when authorities received reports of a hostage situation aboard a Gwinnett County Transit bus at Ivan Allen Junior Boulevard NE.
According to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum, responding officers confronted the suspect, identified as Joseph Grier, who forced the bus driver to flee. The ensuing police chase traversed through Fulton, Gwinnett and DeKalb Counties.
Grier was described as a felon with 19 prior arrests including aggravated assault and possession of a knife during the commission of a crime. During the pursuit, he reportedly fired a shot that struck and killed one passenger on board.
The bus driver, hailed as a hero by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, managed to keep control of the vehicle despite being held at gunpoint. The chase ended just east of Tucker when Grier was apprehended by law enforcement agencies from Atlanta, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties and the Georgia State Patrol.
The victim's identity has not been released, but authorities confirmed that they were transported to a hospital where they later succumbed to their injuries. No other passengers were reported injured during the incident.
This tragic event comes on the heels of another major crime in downtown Atlanta earlier in the day, which left three people with gunshot wounds. The Atlanta Police Department and Gwinnett County Transit are currently investigating both incidents.
