Murder Case Against 16-Year-Old in Death of MARTA Bus Driver Moves Forward

A DeKalb County judge has ruled that the case against a 16-year-old boy charged with murder in the death of MARTA bus driver Leroy Ramos will proceed to court. During a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, Judge Claire Jason determined that the state has sufficient evidence to advance the charges of Felony Murder and Aggravated Assault.

The incident occurred on January 3, 2025, at the Decatur Station, where Ramos, 47, became involved in an argument with three juveniles. The dispute escalated outside the bus, leading to a physical altercation. One of the 16-year-olds then pulled out a firearm and fired several shots, fatally striking Ramos.

Following the investigation, the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office cleared the other two juveniles of any involvement in the shooting, and charges against them were dismissed.

The DA’s office is still determining whether the 16-year-old shooter will be prosecuted as an adult in Superior Court or if the case will remain in juvenile court. As the decision is pending, the defendant’s name has not been released.

The case has been assigned to the SB440 Unit, which handles juvenile cases involving serious offenses, as outlined in the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 1994. The law allows juveniles aged 13 to 17 to be tried as adults for certain crimes, including murder.