Aiexpress – Three teens who are suspected of killing a Georgia bus driver have been taken into custody, according to officials.
A 47-year-old driver named Leroy Ramos was shot several times on Friday night during a fight over not paying the $2.50 fare, according to a MARTA press statement.
The event is said to have happened at a station in Decatur, which is six miles east of Atlanta, around 6:30 p.m.
Two teens, who were not named because of their age, were taken that night in connection with the shooting.
All of the teens are being charged as adults with murder.
Fox 5 and Atlanta News First say that a third suspect turned themselves in on Monday, days after the killing.
The shooting was caught on tape, and the bus driver was a new worker.
The fight between Ramos and the teens can be seen on video received by WSB-TV. Several gunshots could be heard in the background at one point.
“MARTA is devastated by the murder of bus operator Leroy Ramos, a new employee and ATU member who had already made an impact on his fellow operators,” a MARTA spokesperson said in a statement to several local news sources.
The statement said: “MARTA has a strict de-escalation policy designed to protect operators from violence that includes not engaging with customers beyond the scope of their position as bus operator and leaving enforcement of rules to MARTA Police.”
USA TODAY asked the MARTA cops for the story.
Thoughts on Leroy Ramos
Fox 5 says that Ramos just started working for MARTA in October. His wife and three children will miss him. Over $10,000 has been raised for the family through a GoFundMe page.
“Our family is enduring this senseless act of violence firsthand and mourns the loss of a soul that was precious and so priceless to us, 3 days into the new year,” the charity said. “We let the stages of grief set in, and while we’re angry, it’s not at each other. Not every loss is a loss; some are lessons we can learn from, and now is the time to do that.
Source: Dispute Over $2.50 Bus Fare Ends in Tragedy Bus Driver Dead, 3 Teens Charged