Georgia man hijacks bus in Atlanta, main police on a chase
Joseph Grier arrested after hijacking a commuter bus
A Georgia man hijacked a commuter bus, held the driving force and 17 riders at gunpoint, and led a path of police vehicles on a miles-long chase by way of Atlanta site visitors on Tuesday.
Arrest and police intervention through the chase
The suspect, 39-year-old Joseph Grier, was arrested after a Georgia State Patrol officer shot the bus’s engine compartment, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation mentioned. Police additionally used spike strips on the highway to impede the bus.
Argument and lethal end result
Authorities reported that the hijacking occurred after Grier, a convicted felon with a legal file that features 19 arrests, had an argument with one other bus passenger. The opposite passenger pulled a gun on Grier, who managed to wrestle the firearm away, shoot the person, and order the bus driver to flee, in keeping with state investigators.
The wounded bus passenger was later pronounced lifeless at a hospital.
Perpetrator’s fees and the chaotic escape
Grier now faces fees that embody one depend of homicide, 14 counts of kidnapping, 13 counts of aggravated assault, one depend of hijacking a motorcar within the first diploma, and extra firearm-related fees. Witnesses and survivors described the bus’s escape as a frantic zig-zag by way of streets, inflicting collisions with different vehicles alongside the best way.
Passengers’ pleas for assist and witnessing the chaotic scene
All through the chase, terrified passengers made telephone calls and despatched textual content messages to their family members and authorities, in search of help. A passenger on the bus made an emergency name and remained on the road, which proved very important within the suspect’s eventual arrest. Eyewitnesses described the bus’s path as chaotic, with quite a few police vehicles in pursuit.
Police ways and seize
Regulation enforcement authorities utilized numerous measures to disable the hijacked bus, comparable to positioning an armored automobile to restrict its maneuverability. Ultimately, the chase got here to an finish within the Atlanta suburb of Stone Mountain, the place passengers might lastly exit the automobile, and Joseph Grier was taken into custody.
Joint investigation and second violent incident
Following the incident, a joint investigation into the hijacking might be carried out by the Atlanta Police Division and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. This hijacking was the second violent incident to happen in Atlanta on Tuesday, with a separate capturing earlier within the day at a well-liked meals courtroom.
