Damir Igrić

Damir Igrić was born on September 21, 1972, in Slavonski Brod, then part of Yugoslavia (now Croatia). During his adolescence, he attended a vocational school where he trained as a locksmith. In 1991, at the age of 19, he joined the Croatian Army during the early years of Croatia’s war of independence. His military service was brief; he was discharged in 1993. According to later statements by Croatian officials, including Ambassador Ivan Grdešić, Igrić’s discharge was linked to violent behavior, substance abuse, and criminal associations.

Throughout the 1990s, Igrić reportedly struggled with significant mental health problems. While specific diagnoses were not publicly disclosed, both U.S. and Croatian authorities later acknowledged a long-standing history of mental illness. The combination of psychological instability, prior exposure to violence during wartime, and substance abuse appears to have shaped his later behavior.

In March 1999, Igrić entered the United States through Miami, Florida, using a 30‑day transit visa. He overstayed the visa by nearly two years, remaining in the country illegally after convincing immigration officials that he had relatives in Florida and New York. He eventually settled in New York City, where he worked as a restaurant employee. There is no evidence that he was under active law enforcement investigation in the U.S. prior to the bus attack.

In the early morning hours of October 3, 2001, Damir Igrić carried out a deadly attack aboard a Greyhound Lines bus traveling from Chicago, Illinois, to Orlando, Florida. The bus was carrying 39 passengers, most of whom were asleep as it traveled south on Interstate 24, near Manchester, Tennessee, approximately 50 miles southeast of Nashville.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation later confirmed that Igrić had boarded the bus in Chicago. At approximately 4:00 a.m., while the bus was traveling at highway speed, Igrić approached the driver, Garfield Sands, a resident of Marietta, Georgia, who was operating the segment of the route between Indianapolis and Atlanta.

Witnesses and investigators determined that Igrić had approached Sands multiple times earlier, asking routine questions about arrival times and upcoming stops. Sands told him that the next scheduled stop would be in Manchester and instructed him to return to his seat. On the final approach, Igrić said nothing. He suddenly produced a utility knife and slashed Sands’ throat, causing severe injuries. Immediately afterward, Igrić grabbed the steering wheel and forced the bus into oncoming traffic.

The bus left the roadway and rolled over, landing on the driver’s side. During the crash, Igrić was ejected through the windshield and killed instantly on impact. Six other people died as a result of the crash, bringing the total death toll to seven, including the attacker.

Despite his injuries, Garfield Sands survived both the attack and the crash. He managed to crawl out through a window and ran approximately 200 yards along the highway to seek help. Passengers later confirmed the suddenness of the assault. One passenger, Carly Rinearson, who had been seated directly behind the driver, reported that Igrić had previously asked her for her seat and appeared increasingly agitated before the attack.

All 39 passengers sustained injuries of varying severity. Twenty‑one were treated and released the same day, nine were hospitalized in stable condition, and three were listed in critical condition.

The attack occurred less than one month after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, leading to intense media coverage and early speculation about terrorism. Out of caution, Greyhound Lines temporarily suspended bus service nationwide. However, investigators ultimately concluded that the attack was not terrorism-related, but rather the act of a mentally unstable individual acting alone.