Man hospitalized in 'targeted' shooting at Midtown MARTA station in Atlanta
Midtown MARTA station shooting sparks massive manhunt
A passenger was shot on a train at the Midtown station following an argument over a seat, according to police and witnesses.
ATLANTA - A man was shot Friday night while riding a MARTA train.
One man was injured and taken to the hospital.
The suspect is still on the run.
What we know:
MARTA police are actively searching for an unidentified shooter who opened fire on a train arriving at the Midtown station during the Friday evening rush hour.
A notice posted to MARTA’s social media around 6:30 p.m. announced the emergency closure, forcing a bus bridge to be set up between North Avenue, Midtown and Arts Center. The station reopened about two hours later.
According to MARTA, officers responding to a report of shots fired found a man on the southbound platform who was shot in the left arm and leg.
Medics stabilized the man, and he was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital. He is expected to survive.
MARTA officials stated the shooting appeared to be a targeted attack, though witnesses disputed that claim, describing an unprovoked and chaotic scene where riders were left to defend themselves without immediate direction from transit staff.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are searching for the gunman.
Law enforcement vehicles surround the Midtown MARTA Station in Atlanta on June 5, 2026 (FOX 5 Atlanta)
What we don't know:
It remains unknown what led up to the shooting or if there was any prior relationship between the victim and the gunman.
Police have not released the identity or current medical condition of the man who was shot.
The identities of the multiple law enforcement agencies involved in the search also remain unconfirmed.
Additionally, authorities have not provided a description of the fleeing gunman.
What they're saying:
Witnesses onboard the train recounted a terrifying, fast-moving situation that began without warning between the individuals involved.
"All of a sudden, we hear pop pop pop, and we all hit the ground. Nothing happens for five minutes. We are sitting there like what's going on, what's going on," said witness Chelsea Mensah.
Another passenger, Devonte Render, described his immediate survival instincts during the gunfire, stating, "I hid between the train car in case the shooter came back."
Despite transit officials labeling the shooting as targeted, a witness stated that the violence appeared completely unprovoked, saying, "It was over something pointless. They weren't arguing, they don’t know each other. He just turned around and pop pop pop shot this guy."
Mensah, who noted that she normally sees security personnel at the Midtown station, said no officers were in sight Friday night. She expressed frustration over a lack of communication from MARTA staff while passengers remained trapped in the car.
"That should have never happened the way it did," Mensah said. "I feel like for 5 minutes we were sitting there, we didn’t hear anything from the conductor. We could've heard, ‘Hey, shots fired, stay down’ or something. He didn’t say anything to us, and we were all freaking out."
In light of the recent stabbings and the new shooting, passengers expressed doubts about MARTA's current security and called for immediate changes to rider safety.
"Just last week, they said beef up police from stabbing, so I don’t know if they can have officer on each platform at every station," Render said.
An unidentified witness echoed the demand for a heavier security presence, stating, "A lot of changes need to be made we need more cameras, more police officers."
Despite the trauma of the evening, those onboard expressed relief that the violence did not escalate further.
"We all just were trying to get home, it is what it is. I'm thankful we are all OK, and he didn’t come from anyone else on the train," said Mensah.
Law enforcement vehicles surround the Midtown MARTA Station in Atlanta on June 5, 2026 (FOX 5 Atlanta)
The backstory:
This latest incident comes a day after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy ordered the Federal Transit Administration to investigate the system's safety spending and crime mitigation strategies.
Federal investigators are demanding answers from local transit leaders after two horrific daytime stabbings on MARTA property occurred within a single week. A man stabbed a 66-year-old woman 20 times on a train on May 30, and another man was stabbed multiple times at a station following an altercation on May 24.
Duffy announced the clampdown to hold the system accountable, stating that no one should be forced to fear for their safety on public transit. Statistics show the rate of personal security events on MARTA rail lines is three-and-a-half times higher than the national average.
What's next:
The agency announced plans last week to add cameras and officers ahead of the upcoming World Cup, though riders are questioning if the security measures are enough to ensure safety on the tracks.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the MARTA transit agency, who explained how train service was disrupted and where bus bridges were established, as well as the Atlanta Police Department.