Police pursue Gwinnett County: Atlanta police pursue hijacked bus on I-85 to DeKalb County; Joseph Grier in custody, 1 dead

ATLANTA– A man who Atlanta police say put a gun to a bus driver’s head is in custody after the hijacked bus led authorities on a rush-hour chase Tuesday. Another person who was found shot on the bus has since died, officials say.

Police said they would not release the identity of the deceased until next of kin had been 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 yet been able to determine whether Grier has hired legal counsel.

The boss called the bus driver a “hero” for finding himself in a “very dangerous situation” yet remaining loyal to his passengers. He noted that the driver was shaken by the “horrific experience.”

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

Authorities responded to a report of shots fired at a bus in downtown Atlanta around 4:35 p.m. Tuesday, and when the bus arrived, it drove off, Atlanta police said.

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After a chase that took place on I-85 and roads in several counties, the suspect was taken into custody “without further incident,” police said. Officers found an adult with a gunshot wound on the bus, who died at the hospital, according to police.

According to authorities, there were no other injuries among the bus’s occupants.

The bus collided with several vehicles during the chase, police said. It was initially unclear whether any drivers were injured.

One man told CNN that his wife called him from the bus and said someone had been shot and 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 seemed kind of crazy,” Gilbert told his wife’s story. “He was disruptive or getting on people’s nerves,” he added.

Shortly after the bus stopped in the suburb of 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 police vehicles were parked on the street behind it.

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 was not immediately clear when those words appeared on the sign.

The bus is part of Gwinnett County Transit, which operates commuter routes in and out of the greater Atlanta County area, some of which lead to downtown Atlanta.

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

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