Authorities have reported that a police chase through two Georgia counties on Tuesday was sparked by a bus hijacking, which resulted in one person being fatally shot.
According to the Atlanta Police Department, the chaos unfolded around 4:35 p.m. ET in downtown Atlanta, when authorities received a call reporting gunfire on a Gwinnett County Transit bus and a “possible hostage situation.”
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According to a press release from the Atlanta Police Department, a pursuit was initiated after the bus fled the scene upon the officers’ arrival.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens reported that the bus driver was held at gunpoint during the hijacking by the suspect.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum has reported that at the time of the incident, there were a total of 17 individuals on the bus, which included the bus driver.
As the chase was underway, a concerned family member of one of the bus passengers contacted 911, informing the authorities that they had received text messages indicating a hijacking was taking place and that people were being held hostage against their will. According to Schierbaum, who spoke at a press conference on Tuesday evening, this incident added to the urgency of the pursuit.
According to the chief, the police received a second 911 call from the bus during the pursuit. The call remained open and provided valuable information that helped the police to bring an end to the hostage situation.
According to the authorities, the chase covered several areas, and law enforcement officials tried various strategies to halt the bus. Eventually, a SWAT vehicle in Stone Mountain, located in DeKalb County approximately 16 miles northeast of the starting point, disabled the vehicle.
According to a statement released by the DeKalb County Police Department, the Bearcat was positioned by SWAT officers in a strategic manner to block any potential escape routes.
Police have reported that the suspect, a 39-year-old male from Stone Mountain, was apprehended without any further issues.
According to DeKalb County police, the SWAT team discovered a person who had been shot while clearing the bus. Sadly, the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition but passed away shortly thereafter, as confirmed by Atlanta police. The identity of the victim is being withheld until their family has been notified of the tragic news.
Schierbaum stated that the investigators are currently determining the time of the shooting.
There were no other reported injuries.
Atlanta police have confirmed that the investigation is still ongoing.
Officials have reported that a bus shooting and hijacking took place following a separate incident where gunfire erupted at a downtown Atlanta shopping center’s food court on Tuesday afternoon. According to police, three individuals were injured during the incident, and an off-duty Atlanta police officer shot the armed suspect.
According to Schierbaum, the individual responsible for the bus hijacking had boarded the vehicle near a shopping center. However, he was not involved in the shooting that took place there. Schierbaum also noted that both the bus hijacker and the shooter were convicted felons.
Mayor Dickens expressed his dismay over the recent surge in gun violence that took place on Tuesday, stating that it is a direct consequence of too many individuals possessing firearms.
He stated that it is time for us to put an end to the widespread possession of guns and their use in violent acts. He expressed his gratitude towards the Atlanta Police Department and all the other agencies involved in containing the situation and minimizing the potential for further danger.
