Officer Killed, Suspect Dead After Shooting Near CDC, Emory University

Download IPFS

ATLANTA – A DeKalb County police officer was killed and the suspected shooter died following a gunfire incident near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters and Emory University’s campus on Friday afternoon.

The officer, whose identity has not been released, was critically injured during the exchange and later died at a local hospital. DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson called it a “dark day” for the county, noting the officer leaves behind a pregnant wife and two children.

Authorities reported that the suspect opened fire around 4:50 p.m., firing multiple rounds at the CDC building and shattering several windows. The gunman was later found dead of a gunshot wound, which officials said may have been self-inflicted. No civilians were shot during the incident.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said responding officers located the suspect on the second floor of the Emory Point CVS Pharmacy, directly across from the CDC, and engaged in a gunfight.

Fortunately, a day care center on the CDC campus was home to 92 children at the time, all of whom remained unharmed. Four other individuals were treated at hospitals for stress and anxiety-related conditions, according to police.

Following the shooting, Emory University issued a shelter-in-place order, which was later lifted. The university advised the public to “RUN. HIDE. FIGHT. Avoid the area” in an alert sent out on Friday afternoon.

CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez expressed heartbreak over the attack on the agency’s Roybal Campus, which remained on lockdown as investigations continued. “Our top priority is the safety and well-being of everyone at CDC,” she said in a statement. “We are coordinating with federal, state, and local partners to fully investigate this tragic crime.”

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also praised first responders for their bravery. “We ask that you join us in holding them in our prayers, along with those harmed this evening near the CDC Center,” Kemp said on social media.

The FBI’s Atlanta field office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are leading the probe into the shooting. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr expressed horror over the event and extended prayers for the safety of the Emory community.