Transit officials said the wounded passenger was expected to survive.
ATLANTA — A shooting on a MARTA train at Midtown station Friday evening wounded one man, closed the station for about two hours and triggered a search for an unidentified gunman, transit officials said.
The violence unfolded as a train reached the Midtown stop during rush hour. MARTA police said officers responding to reports of gunfire found a man shot on the southbound platform. He had wounds to his left arm and leg and was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital after medics stabilized him.
The emergency closure forced MARTA to move riders by bus between North Avenue, Midtown and Arts Center stations. The station reopened later Friday night. Officials said the attack appeared targeted, though witnesses told FOX 5 Atlanta the shooting followed a brief conflict over a seat and seemed to erupt without warning.
Chelsea Mensah, who was on the train, said passengers hit the floor when they heard gunfire. “That should have never happened the way it did,” Mensah said, adding that riders waited several minutes without clear direction. Devonte Render said he hid between train cars because he feared the gunman could return.
Police had not said Saturday whether the victim and shooter knew each other. Authorities also had not released the victim’s identity, the extent of his recovery or a description of the suspect. Multiple agencies were involved in the search, but officials had not identified each agency.
The case comes during a tense period for MARTA. Federal transportation officials recently ordered a review of the agency’s safety spending and crime prevention work after two stabbings on MARTA property within one week. MARTA has also announced plans for more officers and cameras before World Cup crowds arrive in Atlanta.
Riders who witnessed Friday’s shooting said they want a stronger security presence on trains and platforms. Mensah said she was thankful the shooting did not spread to more passengers, but said the minutes after the gunfire left riders frightened and confused.
The investigation remained active Saturday. Police were reviewing evidence from the train, the platform and witnesses as the gunman remained at large.
Author note: Last updated June 6, 2026.