How 2 convicted felons became the center of violent Atlanta shootings

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Two separate shootings in downtown Atlanta left one person dead and four injured Tuesday afternoon. The suspected shooters in each incident were convicted felons.

Jeremy Malone, a 34-year-old Morrow man, allegedly got into a fight with a 47-year-old man in the food court and shot him, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Officials said Morrow continued to walk through the courthouse, shooting a 69-year-old woman from East Point and a 70-year-old woman from Atlanta.

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At a news conference, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said Malone was a convicted felon who had been arrested nearly a dozen times.

Later in the day, authorities responded to a bus hijacking. Joseph Grier, 39, is accused of taking passengers on a Gwinnett County transit bus hostage and leading law enforcement on a lengthy chase that began in Atlanta and s is over in DeKalb County. He allegedly shot one of the passengers.

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Atlanta police said Grier was a convicted felon with 19 prior arrests.

Atlanta attorney Jamara Edward Shipp joined Atlanta News First+ to analyze the prevalence of repeat offenders in Atlanta following recent events.

ANF+: Everything we know about the deadly Gwinnett County bus hijacking

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