As MARTA Police continue to search for any suspects involved in a deadly shooting that happened Sunday night at the Arts Center Station in Midtown Atlanta, safety at MARTA is in the spotlight.
According to a spokesperson, all of MARTA's stations, buses, and trains are equipped with CCTV cameras that are monitored by MPD personnel. In addition to the cameras, they say MPD has over 200 officers and Protective Specialists who patrol the stations, buses, and trains 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Those patrolling are made up of plainclothes officers, Explosive Detection K-9 Teams and Tactical Field officers who have specialized training to handle the various situations that may occur on the system.
Officials said that one of those officers jumped into action on Sunday night when they heard shots ring out at the Arts Center Station in Midtown Atlanta. That officer then notified other responders who rendered aid to a victim found shot at the scene. The person was sent to the hospital and died from their injuries.
Despite the cameras and officers, it is the latest violent act at a MARTA station this year. For example, at the Five Points Station in January, a man was stabbed to death. In May, someone was shot and killed at the Georgia World Congress Center Station and also in May, a teen was injured during a shooting at the East Point Station.
But as police continue to search for answers for Sunday's deadly shooting, some riders like Jania, who use Marta every day, say they feel generally safe.
"At times that I take MARTA, there’s usually a lot of people. There are a few stragglers that you may tempted to say, ‘Okay, I may need to step away,’ but overall, I do feel safe riding MARTA," Jania added.
Other riders shared with 11Alive that they ride MARTA out of necessity because they have no other source of transportation. Some also said that while they believe additional safety measures can always be put in place, it's a system many have come to rely on.