An Atlanta bus driver can expect to come in contact with rowdy passengers who are irritated after a long day of work and may pick an argument. However, one particular driver ended up in a horrifying situation over bus fare that came to a fatal result.
Leroy Ramos, 47, was taking his bus on its usual route downtown at the Decatur MARTA station just two days after New Years Day when he encountered a group of unruly teens. He’d just begun working with MARTA in October, creating a reputation as a friend to his co-workers in that short span of time, per the bus agency’s CEO Collie Greenwood.
WSB-TV reports that while at the station, three teens engaged in an argument with Ramos because they refused to pay their $2.50 bus fare for the ride. Things got heated as one teen threatened to spit on Ramos. Eventually, the three got into a physical altercation, per the Fulton Neighbor.
While one MARTA employee tried to hold Ramos back, one teen in a red hoodie escalated matters even further. Authorities say the kid pulled out a gun and fired eight times toward Ramos, striking him fatally.
Two of the teens were arrested on the scene and charged with murder. The third got away but eventually turned himself in to Dekalb County Police on Jan 6. and was also charged with murder. While the teens are being held accountable for their alleged actions, MARTA released a statement to WSB-TV suggesting Ramos shouldn’t have engaged with them.
“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,” the agency said.
Ramos’ family organized a GoFundMe to stand against violence and also support his family as he left a wife and children behind.
“This tragic incident happened over a fare dispute that resulted in us losing a life that was worth so much more than $2.50! 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,” read the family’s post.