After Escaping Carjacking Attempt, Two Die in Collision with Marta Bus

Police are investigating a shooting and attempted carjacking that led to a crash and the death of two people, including a veteran 911 dispatcher.

Nikita Thomas, 34, a mother of a 13-year-old son and a nine-year veteran 911 dispatcher for the Atlanta Police Department, died as she and her boyfriend tried to escape a carjacking Sunday evening.  

According to Atlanta Police spokesman Curtis Davenport, police officers responded to a possible robbery call in the 2500 block of Susan Lane.

Upon their arrival in the area, the officers came upon an accident at Campbellton and Barge Roads, where a vehicle had collided with a Marta bus. 

The 39-year-old male driver of the vehicle appeared to have injuries from the accident and was also found to have been shot.  He was transported to Grady Hospital where he later died from his injuries.

 The 34-year-old female occupant of the vehicle was found deceased at the scene. 

Also in the vehicle was the female victim's 13-year-old son. He sustained injuries in the accident and was transported to the hospital and was reported in stable condition. 

According to a WSB report, the couple left the Greenbriar Mall late Sunday evening. When Nikita and her boyfriend got to Susan Lane, men with guns came up to their SUV, demanding cash.

At some point, the men started shooting, hitting Nikita’s boyfriend, who somehow managed to drive to the intersection of Barge and Campbellton.

Police said the SUV then slammed head-on into the Route 166 Marta bus, killing Thomas on impact.

Several Marta patrons received injuries, and were taken to local hospital for evaluations.

WSB reports the uncle of the female, Calvin Brittian said, “For him to see his mom leave like that -- as you can see, he's extremely distraught.”

Furthermore, Makita Thomas, Nikita's mother said, “Bring this home. We know you out there. We know somebody, you out there, my daughter did not deserve that.”

Crime in the Campbellton Road area has been ongoing since the beginning of 2011.

The carjacking is the third incident in the last week on the Campbellton Road Corridor.

Last Wednesday evening, into Sweepstakes, an Internet cafe located at 2056-C Campbellton Rd., just east of Delowe Drive.

The investigation was launched after community complaints about illegal gambling at the location.

One woman, Tiffany Golatt, 28, was arrested. She was charged with two counts of commercial gambling. APD immediately ceased the gambling business operation and apprehended three computers.

On Thursday, .  Her friends came to help Golatt's father recover her gray Toyota Corrolla.

When her friend's  arrived, they said they found someone had broken into the car. A brick was lying on the front seat of the car, they said, surrounded by glass. The glove compartment of the vehicle was wide open.

One of Gollat's friends said that she had spoken with police about the burglary. However, she said authorities told her that a report could not be taken because she was not the owner of the car and Gollat was in jail.

Crime in the Campbellton Road area has been ongoing since the beginning of 2011.

In April, on their ride into the Oakland City train station. Police reported no one was injuries.  A picture was released by APD of the suspect. However, no one has been arrested in the robbery.

Major attempts have been made to stop crime in the Campbellton Road area. Undercover agents bought 373 guns and arrested 49 suspects in a sting operation based in a fake storefront on Campbellton Road.

For seven months, Atlanta police and agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ran and promoted ATL Blaze, 3020 Campbellton Rd., as a smoke shop, but it was really a front for buying and selling guns.

Officials announced the arrests at a news conference at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building, while the federal defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Janet King.

Forty-nine people have been indicted on various federal and state charges: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon as well as conspiracy to unlawfully deal in firearms, theft by receiving stolen property and drug trafficking. Twenty-seven had been arrested.

Better educational and job opportunities by civic organizations may help alter the crime staking statistics.

In the current carjacking case, police are offering a $5,000 reward in the case.  

If you have any information, call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.