Man accused of hijacking bus in Atlanta charged with murder, other crimes
A man accused of hijacking a shuttle bus in downtown Atlanta, shooting one person to death and leading police on a chase through three counties is facing more than 20 criminal charges, including murder
ATLANTA– A man accused of hijacking a downtown Atlanta shuttle bus, fatally shooting one person and leading police on a chase through three counties is facing more than 20 criminal charges, including murder.
Eric Grier, 39, was taken into custody Tuesday after police stopped the bus in suburban DeKalb County and was booked into the Fulton County Jail early Wednesday. He was being held without bond, and online jail records did not list an attorney who could comment on the charges. Family members who might be able to comment could not immediately be identified.
Atlanta police say they responded to a report of gunfire on a bus and a possible hostage situation just after 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. When an officer arrived about a minute later and confronted the suspect, the man forced the bus driver to drive away, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said.
Television news helicopter footage showed the bus hitting several vehicles during the ensuing chase and crossing the wrong side of a road as police pursued. The bus was eventually stopped miles away in neighboring DeKalb County, where news footage showed Grier being led off the bus in handcuffs.
Schierbaum said there were 17 people on the bus, including the driver. When officers cleared the bus of passengers, they found an adult victim with a gunshot wound. Authorities said the person, whose name was not immediately released, was taken to a hospital and died from his injuries.
Earlier Tuesday afternoon, police said a man shot three people at a food court in downtown Atlanta before being shot by an off-duty police officer. Schierbaum said the suspect and three victims were taken to hospitals for treatment, but all were expected to survive.
Grier is charged with one count of murder, one count of hijacking a motor vehicle, 13 counts of aggravated assault, 14 counts of kidnapping, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a crime.