A Friday-night shooting on a Midtown MARTA train sparked a manhunt that ended miles away in Douglas County on Sunday, when officers arrested the suspected gunman after a multi-agency search, authorities said. The passenger who was shot, hit in the left arm and leg, is expected to survive, according to officials. Police say the shooter bolted from the station after opening fire and was later tracked to Douglas County.
Arrest after multi-agency search
Members of the FBI's Atlanta Metro Major Offender (AMMO) Task Force eventually spotted the suspect walking along Lee Road in Douglas County. When a Douglas County deputy moved in, the man took off into the woods, according to WSB‑TV. Agencies quickly set up a perimeter, brought in K-9 teams and an aviation unit, and boxed him in until he was forced back onto the road, where officers took him into custody. Not exactly a clean getaway.
Charges and identity
Police identified the suspect as Anthony Tyrone Gresham. He was booked into the Douglas County jail on felony counts that include aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, FOX5 Atlanta reports. The outlet also notes that, according to jail records, Gresham had prior MARTA-related bookings and was on probation at the time of the shooting.
What investigators say
MARTA officers say the shooting happened just after 7 p.m. on Friday. Surveillance video appears to show the two men making eye contact on the platform, then the suspect boarding the same railcar before opening fire. The wounded rider was found inside the train and taken to a hospital, officials said, as reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Investigators have not publicly discussed a motive.
Safety scrutiny ahead of the World Cup
The arrest lands at a tense time for MARTA. The system is already under the microscope after a separate deadly train stabbing last week, and federal officials are reviewing the agency’s safety practices ahead of Atlanta's World Cup matches. In response, MARTA says it is boosting police visibility on trains and platforms and bringing in officers from other jurisdictions, according to CBS Atlanta.
Legal context
So far, investigators have filed state felony charges against Gresham, and his booking in Douglas County does not rule out additional counts as the case develops. State law limits MARTA’s ability to ban firearms on its system, something officials say complicates policy responses even as the Federal Transit Administration reviews the agency's safety and security. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has highlighted those legal constraints and the pending federal review.
"Thanks to the hard work of all involved in bringing this dangerous suspect to custody," MARTA officials said, praising partner agencies and urging riders to report suspicious activity, FOX5 Atlanta reported. The investigation remains active, and MARTA police say they are reviewing surveillance footage, fare data and witness statements as they work to determine what led up to the shooting.
