Man killed on hijacked Gwinnett County bus was ultimate family man, daughter says [Video]

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The family of the man shot and killed on the hijacked Gwinnett County Transit bus is sharing their grief amid the tragic loss.

The daughter of Ernest Byrd Jr. told Atlanta News First over the phone on Thursday that her dad was the ultimate family man and had boarded the bus in downtown Atlanta like every other day and was headed home when the bus was hijacked, and he was taken hostage.

58-year-old Byrd Jr. was eventually shot and found suffering from a gunshot wound when police finally stopped the bus on Hugh Howell Road in DeKalb County, and he died at the hospital.

His daughter said he was a mason, engaged to be married and loved his family unconditionally. The family also said they acknowledge the complexities of mental illness and the importance of compassion. They went on to say more details are …