A dramatic police chase [1] unfolded in Atlanta on Tuesday afternoon after a hijacked transit bus incident. The chaos began at 45 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard when a fight broke out, and someone seized control of a Gwinnett County Transit bus.
Numerous Atlanta police officers pursued the stolen bus past Spaghetti Junction. The high-speed chase forced all Interstate 85 lanes to temporarily close as officers strategized to stop the vehicle.
The chase reached its climax when the bus exited at Jimmy Carter Boulevard. Officers deployed spike strips, successfully disabling the bus’s tires. Alleged videos and pictures of the incident posted to X shows the dramatic chase play out:
🚨#BREAKING [2]: Watch as police pursue a high-speed chase involving a hijacked transit bus hostage situation as shots were fired at law enforcement⁰⁰📌#Atlanta [3] | #Georgia [4]
Watch as Chaos unfolds as numerous law enforcement officers and other agencies pursue an intense high-speed… pic.twitter.com/Pih4aELRAQ [5]
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) June 11, 2024 [6]
Gwinnett County bus hijacked, leading to a high-speed chase. One reported dead, one in custody. pic.twitter.com/F4VCo0hLjS [7]
— ATL Uncensored (@ATLUncensored) June 11, 2024 [8]
PHOTOS: Pictures from Tucker, Georgia where a Gwinnett County Transit Bus is surrounded by law enforcement. Our SKYFOX 5 caught the moment it appears a person was apprehended after a long police chase. @RobDiRienzo [9] is working to confirm details. #breaking [10] #atl [11] #news [12] pic.twitter.com/Pw2LcrVmWr [13]
— Billy Heath III (@BillyHeathFOX5) June 11, 2024 [14]
The bus eventually stopped on Hugh Howell Road in DeKalb County, where it was surrounded by law enforcement. A SWAT vehicle positioned itself directly in front of the bus, with Georgia State Patrol, DeKalb County Police, and Atlanta Police all responding to the incident.
Confusion remained over who was driving the bus at the time. Investigations continue to determine whether the bus driver was in control or if another person was behind the wheel.
The suspect, a 39-year-old man, has been detained and is now in police custody. Early reports are claiming one fatality, but these statements have yet to be confirmed by law enforcement.