– Atlanta bus hijacker takes passengers on wild ride at gunpoint
– Passengers send frantic texts during Atlanta bus hijacking.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : Atlanta authorities were left reeling after a series of harrowing incidents unfolded in the city, starting with a shooting inside a downtown food court. The chaos continued as reports came in about a bus hijacking, with a gunman taking control of a commuter bus with 17 passengers on board.
The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Joseph Grier, a felon with 19 prior convictions, held the bus driver at gunpoint and forced him to speed away as police attempted to intervene. The ensuing police chase spanned across multiple counties, with the bus careening into other vehicles and crossing into opposing traffic.
Inside the bus, a passenger managed to stay on the line with 911, allowing authorities to hear the tumultuous events unfolding. Mayor Andre Dickens described the scene as reminiscent of a movie, with the suspect threatening the bus driver with a gun and demanding the bus to keep moving.
The high-stakes chase finally came to a halt in the suburb of Stone Mountain, where passengers evacuated the bus and Grier was arrested without further incident. Tragically, a passenger found shot on board the bus succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
The hijacked bus belonged to the Gwinnett County Transit system, a crucial link for commuters traveling to and from Atlanta’s vast suburbs. Passenger Paulette Gilbert recounted the terrifying ordeal to her husband, Johnny Gilbert, describing a man exhibiting erratic behavior who eventually shot another passenger.
The incident unfolded rapidly, with police receiving frantic 911 calls reporting the hijacking and shots fired. Despite the chaos, authorities were able to track the bus’s movements with the help of a passenger who stayed on the line with dispatchers throughout the chase.
The day’s events in Atlanta were further marred by a separate shooting at a popular food court just blocks away from the bus hijacking. The alarming proximity of the incidents, coupled with the suspects’ extensive criminal histories, has sparked outrage and concern among local officials.
Mayor Dickens condemned the gun violence, emphasizing the need for stricter measures to prevent individuals with criminal backgrounds from possessing firearms. While violent crime rates in Atlanta have been on a downward trend, the events of that day serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges the city faces.
As authorities launch a joint investigation into the bus hijacking, residents of Atlanta are left shaken by the violence that unfolded on their streets. The day’s events serve as a somber reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address gun violence and ensure the safety of all residents..
– Atlanta bus hijacker
– Frantic texts.
