Authorities identify, arrest man who hijacked bus at gunpoint after fatally shooting passenger | Law enforcement today

ATLANTA, GA – Authorities have identified the man accused of holding a bus driver at gunpoint, hijacking the bus and holding the 17 other travelers hostage.

According to Fox News, Joseph Grier, 39, was arrested without further incident after a vehicle chase that crossed multiple jurisdictions – a total of 15 miles. In a statement, the Atlanta Police Department (APD) said the rush-hour chase crossed highway lanes and suburban streets, with the bus plowing into other cars and crossing into oncoming traffic .

Grier hijacked the bus at gunpoint and shot one of the passengers. He has since been booked into the Fulton County Jail on more than two dozen charges, including murder, 14 counts of kidnapping, 13 counts of aggravated assault, hijacking a motor vehicle and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

At a news conference, APD Chief Darin Schierbaum said Grier was a convicted felon with 19 prior arrests. The Georgia Department of Corrections told Fox 5 Atlanta that Grier was last released from Baldwin State Prison 10 years ago after serving time for aggravated assault that occurred in 2011. He also served time for possession of a knife during the commission of a crime.

According to Associated Press (AP), Shortly before Grier hijacked the bus, police had responded to the area following reports of several people who had been shot at a downtown Atlanta food court. As this incident unfolded, Grier was believed to be on the sidewalk outside the food court, speaking with reporters about his mental health, criminal record and banking history.

When speaking to reporters, he seemed agitated, adding that he felt like a “snitch” for describing what he saw. He also said, “I'm bipolar. I'll tell you and I won't take any more medication for about two weeks.”

Authorities said Grier boarded a bus bound for a Gwinnett County park and ride 26 miles away and got into a fight with one of the passengers. That passenger was identified as Ernest Byrd Jr., 58, the man who was fatally shot by Grier. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, during the fight, Byrd pulled out a gun. Grier took that gun and fatally shot Byrd, then threatened to shoot the driver if he stopped.

Schierbaum said that despite Grier's warnings not to use a phone, one of the passengers called 911 and left the line open, which allowed police to better understand the delicate situation in the bus. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said police slashed the bus's tires, but it continued to drive until a state trooper fired his rifle at the engine, causing it to crash. stop working.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement: “You have an individual saying, 'If you stop this bus, I'm going to kill the driver,' which means the entire bus could overturn, roll into a ditch or crush”. a bridge and everyone could die. But you also have a man who we know was shot, so he has limited time.

Schierbaum said investigators found no connection between Grier and the man responsible for the food court shooting, 34-year-old Jeremy Malone. Schierbaum and Dickens said they believed Grier's actions were related to mental health issues. Dickens said: “Had he had a mental episode in that brief moment triggered by the police sirens, triggered by the activity he was hearing, or was he already that day having an episode mental (and) he was just in that zone? play in our investigation. »

Grier's father's partner told Fox 5 Atlanta that Grier had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and had suffered from mental illness for 16 years. She said he received medical treatment for both of his mental illnesses. She described Grier as having a gentle, calm and loving demeanor when he is well rested and taking his medications.

However, she said he stopped following his treatment plan after recently losing his job and had not been getting much sleep. Byrd, the man who was fatally shot by Grier, was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries. He leaves behind four children as well as a child and relatives of his ex-wife whom he helped raise.