Man Shot To Death In GA Bus-Hijacking Identified

ATLANTA, GA — The man who was shot and killed while on a Gwinnett County transit bus, which was subsequently hijacked by the accused shooter, in downtown Atlanta Tuesday has been identified.

Atlanta Police said Earnest Byrd Jr., 58, was fatally shot while on the bus at Ivan Allen Boulevard.

The man accused of shooting Byrd to death is facing several charges after authorities said the man hijacked the bus after the deadly shooting, causing a multi-county pursuit.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Wednesday that accused suspect Joseph Grier, 39, boarded a Gwinnett County transit bus around 4:15 p.m. Tuesday in downtown Atlanta.

Sometime on the bus, the GBI said Grier engaged in a fight with Byrd, and Byrd pulled out a gun. Grier was accused of then taking the gun from Byrd and threatening passengers with it.

The GBI said Grier shot Byrd, and ordered the bus driver to flee the scene.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said the bus was hijacked from the 40 block of Ivan Allen with several people aboard.

A multi-agency, multi-county chase began as the bus entered into Gwinnett County, then DeKalb County, the GBI said.

The bus hit several police vehicles, and the bus' tires were flattened, during the chase, the GBI said. With flat tires, the bus continued to flee, the GBI said.

A trooper then shot a rifle into the bus' engine so the bus can malfunction and stop, the GBI said.

The chase ultimately ended on Hugh Howell Road in Stone Mountain, and Grier was taken into custody without incident, the GBI said.

Byrd died while at a local hospital, authorities said. The bus driver was treated at a local hospital, the GBI said.

Fulton County Jail records show Grier was charged on suspicion of murder, 14 counts of kidnapping, first-degree hijacking a motor vehicle, 14 counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies.

"My heart goes to the family of the one individual that is individual that is deceased at this time," Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said at a Tuesday evening news conference. "My heart also goes out to the individuals that had to endure this frightening journey across multiple jurisdictions this evening that was on this bus here."

He noted the earlier shooting that injured four people, including the suspect, at Peachtree Center.

RELATED: Accused Gunman In Peachtree Center Mall Shooting Identified

Schierbaum said the bus hijacking is not connected to the Peachtree Center shooting.

Both incidents are instances of gun violence where "too many people have guns in their hands," Dickens said.

"You're talking about too many guns in the hands of individuals that should not have guns," Dickens said. "Too many guns in our streets, too many guns in our homes, too many guns in our schools and buses. This is clearly an indication that something and more needs to be done. ... We all have to say 'enough is enough,' ..."

Grier witnessed the Peachtree Center shooting, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Once the GBI's case file is complete, it will be given to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office for review.