Police chase Gwinnett County: Atlanta cops chase hijacked transit bus on I-85 into DeKalb County; Joseph Grier in police custody, 1 dead

ATLANTA– A man who Atlanta police say pointed a gun at a bus driver’s head is in custody after the hijacked bus led authorities on a rush-hour chase Tuesday, and another person found shot on the bus is now dead, authorities say.

Police said they would not release the identity of the deceased until family members were notified. The suspect was identified as Joseph Grier, a 39-year-old felon, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said at a news conference.

CNN has not been able to determine whether Grier has retained legal counsel at this time.

The chief called the bus driver a “hero” because he was in “a very dangerous situation” while remaining attached to his passengers. He noted that the driver was shaken by “this harrowing experience.”

The chief said 17 people were on the bus, including the driver.

Authorities responded to a report of shots fired on a downtown Atlanta bus around 4:35 p.m. Tuesday, and upon arrival, the bus took off, Atlanta police said.

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Following a chase that took place on I-85 and through several county streets, the suspect was taken into custody “without further incident,” police said. Inside the bus, officers found an adult with a gunshot wound who died at the hospital, according to police.

Authorities said no other people on the bus were injured.

The bus struck several vehicles during the chase, police said. It was not immediately known if any motorists were injured.

One man told CNN that his wife called him from the bus to tell him that someone had been shot and that she was scared.

Johnny Gilbert said his wife, Paulette Gilbert, takes the bus to and from work.

“She said the guy got on the bus and looked a little crazy,” Gilbert said, telling his wife’s story. “He was disturbing or annoying people,” he added.

Shortly after the bus stopped in suburban Stone Mountain, a person was seen being led away in handcuffs. An armored police vehicle was parked in front of the bus and at least a dozen law enforcement vehicles were parked behind it on the street.

During at least part of the chase and after the bus stopped, aerial footage from CNN affiliate WXIA showed the electronic sign on the front of the bus reading “EMERGENCY” and then “CALL POLICE 911.” It’s not immediately clear when these words began appearing on the sign.

The bus is owned by Gwinnett County Transit, which operates commuter routes to and from metro Atlanta County, some of which go to downtown Atlanta.

CNN reached out to Gwinnett County but did not receive a response.

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