ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – One person is dead and a suspect is in custody following a hijacking that led to a high-speed chase involving a Gwinnett County transit bus that started in Atlanta and ended in DeKalb County late Tuesday afternoon.
Atlanta police said someone was found on the bus with a gunshot wound and later died after they were taken to the hospital.
The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Joseph Grier of Stone Mountain, was taken into custody, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said during a press conference Tuesday evening. He said Grier is a convicted felon with 19 prior arrests.
Schierbaum said the deceased victim will be identified once their next of kin is notified. He said the victim is believed to have died of a gunshot wound.
Schierbaum said 17 people were on board the bus, including the driver, whom he called a hero.
DeKalb County police said shortly after the chase ended that the driver had been taken to the hospital.
Schierbaum said 911 dispatch received a call about a gunman who was holding hostages on a Gwinnett County transit bus and had possibly fired a weapon, at 45 Ivan Allen Junior Boulevard NE around 4:30 p.m. – just as he and other officials were concluding a press briefing on a quadruple shooting at the Peachtree Center mall earlier in the afternoon.
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Schierbaum said an officer arrived one minute later and confronted the suspect, who forced the bus driver to take off.
A chase ensued, which went through Gwinnett County before it ended in DeKalb County.
Schierbaum said as police were pursuing the bus, 911 dispatch got a call from a family member of a person onboard, saying he was receiving text messages that there was a hijacking and hostage situation on the bus.
He said a person on the bus then called 911, and the line remained open throughout the chase, providing law enforcement with valuable information to end the situation.
Atlanta News First reporter Madeline Montgomery also spoke with a man whose wife was on the bus.
“It’s almost, like, disbelief, like you almost don’t realize this really did happen,” said John Gilbert, whose wife called him from the bus to describe what was happening. “Some guy that was on the bus, and then some other guy gets on the bus, being disruptive, and the guy supposedly asked him to behave himself or whatever, calm down, and I don’t know if that’s what started the fight but next thing you know, he was shot.”
He stayed on the phone with his wife, Paulette, and tracked her phone.
“I lost contact with her for about 50 minutes. So I had no idea what was going on,” Gilbert said. “I had the worst… honestly, I never felt like that before. We’ve been together a long time.”
Gilbert’s wife had also eaten lunch at Peachtree Center right before Tuesday’s shooting.
“She called me after lunch and said, ‘You are not going to believe this: There was a shooting in the food court,’” said Gilbert. “I’m just glad it’s over with. I have no idea what happens next, but I’m just glad she’s all right.”
The bus hit several vehicles during the pursuit. At one point, it drove on the wrong side of the road on State Route 8.
When the chase ended, multiple people were seen getting off the bus. The suspect was also seen being taken into custody.
According to Fulton County Jail records, Grier faces one count of murder, one count of hijacking a motor vehicle, 13 counts of aggravated assault, 14 counts of kidnapping and two gun possession charges.
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Law enforcement agencies in Atlanta, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, along with the Georgia State Patrol, were all involved in the chase. During the press conference Tuesday evening, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Schierbaum thanked those agencies for helping end the hostage situation and save lives.
“It’s unfortunate that today, in two different instances, I am coming before the media with Chief Schierbaum talking about acts of gun violence in our region, in our city, and I’m thankful for the partnerships that we have here,” Dickens said.
Dickens said his heart went out to the deceased victim and the other victims who had to endure a “frightening journey” across multiple jurisdictions.
“Let me be clear, we’re talking about gun violence that is as a result of too many people having guns in their hands,” said Dickens, adding that the suspects in the bus hijacking and the Peachtree Center shooting, both convicted felons, should not have had access to firearms.
Schierbaum said it does not appear that the two incidents are related.
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