Gunman arrested, one person dead in Gwinnett County Transit bus hijacking

Image of a Gwinnett County transit bus via Gwinnett County(not the actual bus involved in the hijacking.

ATLANTA, GA—Transit union officials are blasting the Gwinnett County Transit agency after a passenger was fatally shot on Tuesday (June 11) during a terrifying bus hijacking by an armed gunman who forced the bus driver to cross Fulton, Gwinnett and DeKalb counties.

Authorities have identified the hijacker as Joseph Grier, 39, a felon with 19 previous arrests. The identity of the passenger, who died after being taken to a hospital, has not been released. 

The hijacking started around 4:30 p.m. in downtown Atlanta and spanned across Fulton, Gwinnett and DeKalb counties. Grier was taken into custody around 5:15 p.m. after the bus was stopped on Hugh Howell Road near Tucker, Atlanta police Chief Darin Schierbaum said during a press conference.

Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the pursuit, including Atlanta police, APD’s aviation unit, the Georgia State Patrol, and the DeKalb Police and marshals. 

Authorities said 17 people, including the driver, were on the bus when a fight broke out on the bus in downtown Atlanta at 45 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. One person died and there were no other injuries,  authorities said.

The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) International and ATU Local 732-Atlanta, GA, are blasting the Gwinnett County Transit agency for failing to provide better protection and safety measures for transit workers and riders. 

“I want to express our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the family and the loved ones of the passenger shot by the disgruntled rider who hijacked a Gwinnett County Transit bus this afternoon,” said Local 732 President/Business Agent Britt Dunams. “The scourge of violence on Gwinnett County Transit and MARTA has gotten out of control and must be stopped. It’s time for our transit agencies to better protect our members and riders.” 

The union stated in a news release: “This afternoon, a man with a gun got on a Gwinnett County Transit bus and threatened riders. He then hijacked the bus and led police on a chase over busy rush hour roads, at one point driving into oncoming traffic before coming to a stop on the side of a road, police say. The bus hit several vehicles during the pursuit. Reports say the police captured a suspect, who is in custody. Unfortunately, there is an epidemic of violence and assaults on public transit across North America. “

“Today’s bus hijacking in Atlanta is not an isolated incident. Not a day goes by that we don’t hear a story of one of our members or riders being attacked. They get punched, shot, stabbed, and spit on. We have had senior citizens robbed for pocket change and women sexually assaulted,” said ATU International President John Costa. “Transit workers cannot do their job, and passengers cannot travel on public transportation in fear of being attacked and assaulted.”