Federal prosecutors have announced new charges against a convicted felon accused of opening fire on a teenager aboard an Atlanta train, marking the latest violent incident to draw national attention to the city’s embattled transit system.

Anthony Gresham, 42, of Lithia Springs, Georgia, is now facing a series of federal charges after authorities say he shot a 17-year-old passenger on a MARTA train in broad daylight last week. The case comes as federal officials intensify scrutiny of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority following a string of violent attacks, including the brutal stabbing death of a grandmother on another train just days earlier.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia announced that Gresham has been charged with committing an act of violence with intent to cause serious bodily injury on a mass transportation system, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

The federal case adds to the serious state charges Gresham already faces, including aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Officials say the June 5 shooting unfolded aboard a MARTA train stopped at Midtown Station, one of the busiest transit hubs in Atlanta. According to investigators, the victim had just boarded the train when violence erupted.

Authorities allege Gresham pulled out a firearm and shot the teenager before fleeing from the station. The shooting sent terrified passengers scrambling for safety and reignited concerns about public safety across Atlanta’s rail network.

The victim, whose identity has not been publicly released because he is a minor, suffered gunshot wounds to his left hand and left leg. Emergency responders rushed him to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment.

An online fundraiser created on behalf of the teen later revealed that he remains in recovery from the injuries sustained during the attack.

Despite the seriousness of the wounds, supporters say the teenager is expected to survive. Family members and friends have since rallied around him as he continues his recovery.

Authorities launched an intensive search for the gunman after the shooting. According to investigators, Gresham managed to escape the scene immediately after the attack.

The manhunt ended two days later when law enforcement officers located and arrested him in neighboring Douglas County.

Federal prosecutors say Gresham’s criminal history played a significant role in their decision to pursue federal intervention.

According to court records cited by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Gresham has accumulated convictions across at least three Georgia counties over several decades.

His criminal record allegedly includes convictions for armed robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft, possession of cocaine and robbery by force.

Federal officials argued that the lengthy criminal history demonstrates a pattern of violent and repeat offending.

“Gresham was allegedly undeterred by decades of prosecution for robberies, drug trafficking, and other crimes, which compounds the need for federal intervention in this case,” U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said in a statement announcing the charges.

Hertzberg emphasized that federal authorities intend to work closely with local law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime on Atlanta’s public transportation system.

“My office and federal law enforcement will continue to lean in and partner with local agencies to hold criminals accountable for violent attacks on MARTA, a critical component of Atlanta’s transportation infrastructure that is subsidized by federal funds,” he said.

The federal charges significantly raise the stakes for Gresham if he is convicted.

While state prosecutors are pursuing their own case, federal penalties for crimes involving violence on mass transportation systems can be severe, particularly when firearms are involved.

Investigators have not publicly disclosed what may have motivated the shooting.

Authorities have also not indicated whether Gresham and the teenager knew each other before the encounter.

The lack of a publicly identified motive has fueled additional concern among MARTA riders, many of whom have expressed growing anxiety over a series of violent incidents occurring across the transit network.

The shooting comes at a particularly difficult time for MARTA, which is already facing intense criticism over safety concerns.

Just days before Gresham was federally charged, another suspect was indicted in connection with one of the most shocking crimes to occur on the system in recent memory.

John Elijah Matthews, 25, is accused of fatally stabbing 66-year-old Margaret Swan aboard a MARTA train on May 30.

Prosecutors allege Swan was riding alone when Matthews suddenly attacked her without provocation.

Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators allegedly showed Matthews repeatedly stabbing the great-grandmother approximately 18 to 20 times in the chest and neck as she attempted to defend herself.

The attack horrified Atlanta residents and drew national headlines.

Federal prosecutors subsequently charged Matthews with committing an act of violence causing death on a mass transportation system.

If convicted, he could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty, depending on whether federal officials decide to pursue capital punishment.

The U.S. attorney general will ultimately determine whether prosecutors seek the death penalty in that case.

Together, the two incidents have intensified pressure on MARTA leadership and local officials to address rising concerns about rider safety.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently announced a federal investigation into MARTA following a pattern of violent incidents that officials say exceeds national averages.

Federal transit authorities have launched an audit examining whether MARTA has properly implemented safety measures designed to protect both employees and passengers.

The investigation will evaluate assault prevention strategies, crime reduction efforts and the agency’s use of security funding.

Officials have specifically pointed to troubling statistics involving assaults, robberies and other violent offenses occurring throughout the transit system.

The federal review is expected to include requests for extensive documentation, including safety plans, training records and reports involving attacks on workers and passengers.

For many riders, the shooting involving Gresham and the stabbing involving Matthews have become symbols of broader fears surrounding public transportation safety.

Transit advocates warn that continued violence could discourage residents from using public transportation, potentially affecting ridership and public confidence in one of Atlanta’s most important transportation networks.

Meanwhile, prosecutors are preparing to move forward with both high-profile criminal cases.

Gresham remains in custody as federal and state proceedings continue.

The teenage victim continues recovering from his injuries, while investigators work to determine precisely what led to the confrontation aboard the train.

As Atlanta grapples with renewed questions about crime and public safety, federal authorities say they intend to send a clear message that violent offenders targeting passengers on public transit will face aggressive prosecution.

For MARTA riders, however, the latest shooting serves as another unsettling reminder that concerns about safety remain at the center of an increasingly urgent debate over the future of Atlanta’s transit system.