A gun accidentally fired on a MARTA Route 5 bus near the intersection of Roswell and Glenridge roads in Sandy Springs on Thursday, July 23, wounding two passengers and prompting the transit agency's police chief to renew his call for a firearms ban on public transit.

The gun's owner, Cruz Valazquez Guillermo, was struck in the left forearm. A second passenger was hit in the leg. Both were taken to a hospital, according to MARTA police, and their conditions have not been publicly updated.

MARTA police said the discharge was unintentional. Guillermo faces charges of reckless conduct and aggravated assault and will be booked into the Fulton County Jail after his release from the hospital, according to the agency.

Route 5 runs along the Roswell Road corridor through Sandy Springs. The late-night discharge occurred near one of the route's major stops.

MARTA police chief pushes for firearms ban

MARTA Police Chief Scott Kreher said the Sandy Springs incident underscores the danger of allowing firearms aboard transit vehicles. He has advocated for TSA-style security screening and a ban on guns on MARTA buses and trains.

"If we're going to have hundreds of people on mass transit, we should not allow open carry like we have in the state of Georgia," Kreher said.

Any such ban would require an exception to Georgia's open carry law, Kreher acknowledged, adding that obtaining one has historically been difficult.

Broader safety concerns

The incident adds to ongoing scrutiny of MARTA's safety record. The bus drivers' union has raised alarms, describing a pattern of safety incidents on buses and trains and calling for safer working conditions.

No MARTA board vote or Georgia legislative hearing on a potential firearms ban has been scheduled as of Friday, July 24.

Residents who witness safety incidents on MARTA can call the MARTA police tip line at 404-848-4900.