Joseph Grier : “Atlanta Bus Hijacking: One Dead, Gunman at Large”

One individual has tragically lost their life after a gunman commandeered a bus in Atlanta, sparking a dramatic car chase that extended from the city into surrounding suburbs.

Authorities reported that the incident unfolded when a 39-year-old felon named Joseph Grier hijacked a commuter bus with 17 passengers aboard near downtown Atlanta around 4:30 pm on Tuesday. The passengers, in a state of panic, reached out to their loved ones and emergency services for assistance.

“Our initial report indicated a gunman on the bus, holding hostages and possibly discharging a weapon,” stated Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum during a press conference on Tuesday evening.

Within minutes of the emergency call, a police officer arrived at the scene and confronted the perpetrator. The gunman then threatened the bus driver at gunpoint, forcing the vehicle to accelerate and kickstarting the high-speed pursuit, according to Schierbaum.

The intense car chase, captured by television news cameras, showcased the Gwinnett County Transit bus weaving through rush hour traffic and colliding with several vehicles along the way.

During the chase, a courageous passenger on board managed to remain connected with emergency services, enabling them to hear the chaos unfolding inside the bus. Mayor Andre Dickens likened the scene to a suspenseful movie, with the suspect holding the bus driver at gunpoint and issuing threats.

After covering several miles, law enforcement successfully halted the bus in DeKalb County, where Grier was apprehended.

Grier, a repeat offender with 19 prior arrests, was armed with a handgun during the ordeal, as confirmed by Schierbaum.

Tragically, a passenger on the bus was discovered with a gunshot wound and rushed to a medical facility, where they succumbed to their injuries. The victim’s identity remains undisclosed at this time.

Following the bus hijacking, images circulated depicting a police SWAT vehicle barricading the front of the bus, flanked by a firetruck. The bus still displayed illuminated signs urging for emergency assistance.

Connection to Previous Incident

The bus hijacking incident occurred merely hours after a shooting at a downtown Atlanta food court, where a man opened fire on three individuals before being subdued by an off-duty police officer.

The 34-year-old suspect, a convicted felon with 11 prior arrests, along with the three victims, were transported to hospitals for treatment and were expected to recover.

Authorities have indicated that there appears to be no direct link between the food court shooting and the bus hijacking.

Response and Investigation

Mayor Dickens expressed deep concern over the surge in gun violence, emphasizing the need for stricter gun control measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

While acknowledging the overall decline in violent crime rates in the city, Dickens stressed the significance of taking proactive steps to address the root causes of gun-related incidents.

A collaborative investigation into the bus hijacking will be led by the Atlanta Police Department in conjunction with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.