In a recent shift of judicial responsibility, the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office has taken on the case of the June 11 hijacking of a Gwinnett County transit bus, following a request for recusal by the Fulton County District Attorney due to a conflict of interest. According to WSB, the conflict arises from one of the victims, a legal assistant from the Fulton County DA's office, being among the 17 passengers threatened during the incident.

The accused, 39-year-old Joseph Grier, faces a litany of charges including murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault. After a reported shooting in downtown Atlanta, Grier allegedly forced the bus driver at gunpoint to flee the scene, resulting in a police chase that ended in Stone Mountain where Grier was taken into custody, and, according to FOX 5 Atlanta, he was held without bond following his waiver of the right to a first court appearance.

In a letter mentioned by WSB, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis outlined the nature of the conflict, stating, "District Attorney is conflicted because it has been determined that a victim/witness, in this case, is a current employee of the Office of the District Attorney for the Atlanta Judicial Circuit."

The case gains further complexity due to Grier's reported history with mental health issues. Grier's family members have disclosed to FOX 5 Atlanta that he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and, was not taking his prescribed medication prior to the events of June 11th. His criminal record, as detailed by Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum, includes past arrests for aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.