The judicial proceedings against a 16-year-old suspect in the shooting death of MARTA bus driver Leroy Ramos are set to continue. DeKalb County Magistrate Court Judge Claire Jason found sufficient evidence to proceed with the case during a preliminary hearing that took place this past Wednesday. The charges against the teen include Felony Murder and Aggravated Assault.
Details disclosed during the investigation reveal that the violent incident occurred on the evening of January 3, after an argument escalated between Ramos and three juveniles at the Decatur Station. It was during this altercation that one of the 16-year-old’s decision to quickly draw a firearm and discharge multiple rounds, subsequently resulted in the death of the 47-year-old bus driver.
In the aftermath, the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office conducted a comprehensive examination of the incident. They determined that the other two juveniles involved in the dispute did not participate in the act of shooting. Charges against these two individuals have been, as a result, officially dismissed. Although the case against the accused shooter moves forward, the DA's Office has not yet decided whether to try him as a juvenile or as an adult. Due to this pending decision, the suspect's identity remains confidential.
As the case continues to unfold, the DA’s SB440 Unit, which is a unit dedicated to dealing with cases involving juvenile suspects, is handling the investigation. According to the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office, the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 1994 specifies that juveniles aged 13-17 can potentially be tried as adults for certain violent offenses, including murder and aggravated assault.
