'Kind-Hearted' Bus Driver Who Overcame 'All Types of Adversity' Is Fatally Shot Over $2.50 Fare

A Georgia bus driver who was fatally shot in a dispute over a $2.50 fare is being remembered for his resiliency and compassion for others.

Leroy Ramos was working his regular bus loop for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) on Jan. 3 when the three juveniles got in an argument with him at Decatur Station, say police. The trio allegedly refused to pay the bus fare of $2.50, local station WSB-TV 2 reported, citing police. The altercation escalated from one teen threatening to spit on Ramos to another producing a gun and shooting the bus driver multiple times, say police.

Two of the juveniles were immediately arrested. The third — who is the suspected shooter — fled and remained missing until Jan. 6, when he turned himself in to DeKalb County Police, local outlet Fulton Neighbor reported. All three have been charged with murder.

Ramos’s family started a GoFundMe page to support grieving loved ones and rally for gun violence prevention and safe working conditions for public service workers.

In the GoFundMe’s description, Ramos’ family recalled his bright presence and selfless nature.

“Leroy Ramos wasn’t just a bus driver; he was a loving husband, a loving father, but overall, he was a kind-hearted person who came from humble beginnings, experienced all types of adversity at such a young age, and still prevailed,” the post read.

The GoFundMe continued: “He was the type of man that would show up for anyone and everyone, even if he didn’t know them. Just one call or encounter, and he would sacrifice his last to help! A man who valued life itself; just the little things in life made him feel whole.”

In a Jan. 4 statement following Ramos’s death, the Amalgamated Transit Union mourned Ramos’ loss and lamented what it described as a larger pattern of unsafe conditions for transit workers.

“The murder of Brother Ramos is a brutal reminder that it is long overdue for our transit agencies and elected officials to make real changes to ensure our members and riders are safe on our public transit systems,” wrote ATU International President John Costa.

Britt Dunams, President/Business Agent for Local 732 — which represents the Metro-Atlanta area for the union —added, “His murder is a tragedy. Our members should be able to go to work and come home safely each day. It is time for MARTA to ensure our members and riders are safe on our buses, our rail, at bus stops, and at transit centers.”

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Ramos’s family concluded their GoFundMe post by calling for change to prevent gun violence.

“This isn’t the first act of gun violence or any kind of violence within the public! As a community (all communities), we need to make a change, not just in Atlanta but all over the United States!” the family wrote. “We are in a time where all we can do is stand together!”