As police responded to reports of multiple people shot at a downtown Atlanta food court, Joseph Grier was outside talking in a scattered way to reporters about his mental health, criminal record, and banking history.
“I’m bipolar, I’m gonna tell you all that, and I’m off my medication for like two weeks,” Grier said on Tuesday afternoon, looking agitated. He added that he felt uncomfortable sharing what he had witnessed.
Shortly after this, police stated that he took control of a commuter bus. He allegedly used a gun to order the driver to accelerate, frightening the passengers. Authorities reported that after about 40 minutes, Grier had fatally shot one passenger and led officers on a dramatic pursuit across three counties.
The incidents of the food court shooting and the bus hijacking, which occurred within two hours and a few blocks of each other, caused confusion in Atlanta. Following the events, city leaders criticized the prevalence of firearms on the streets but moved quickly to reassure residents. They also highlighted statistics indicating a decrease in violent crime in Atlanta.
Joseph Grier talks to the police about shooting (Via Rafael Stoinis/Shutterstock)
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Grier boarded a bus headed to a park-and-ride lot in suburban Gwinnett County, located 26 miles away. An altercation ensued between Grier and passenger Ernest Byrd Jr., 58, during which Byrd reportedly drew a gun. Grier allegedly took the gun and fatally shot Byrd. He then threatened to shoot the driver if the bus stopped.
Despite Grier’s warnings against using phones, at least one passenger managed to call 911 and keep the line open, according to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. This allowed law enforcement to better grasp the tense situation aboard the bus as it sped along an interstate and through side streets, occasionally colliding with vehicles in its path.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported that police disabled the bus by flattening its tires. However, it continued moving until a state trooper fired a rifle into the engine, causing it to stop.
