Suspect Dead, Officer Injured in Shooting Near CDC and Emory University

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A suspected shooter is dead and a law enforcement officer has been injured following an incident near the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Emory University in northeast Atlanta on Friday. Authorities confirmed the situation was contained and said there was no ongoing threat to the public.

Police responded to reports of an active shooter in the area, which is home to Emory University’s main campus, Emory University Hospital, and the CDC headquarters. The institutions sit along Clifton Road, a normally congested route that was unusually clear during the emergency.

Emory University issued a shelter-in-place order shortly after the reports emerged, later announcing via social media platform X that the order had been lifted but warning people to avoid the affected area. The CDC confirmed that bullets had struck the windows of several buildings on its campus.

Nearby business owners described hearing rapid gunfire. Brandy Giraldo, chief operating officer of the General Muir deli, said the sound resembled “fireworks going off, one right after the other.” She reported seeing people running past her restaurant, with a parking attendant and another passerby stopping to warn of a nearby shooter.

By around 6 p.m., warning sirens could be heard repeatedly across the area as law enforcement vehicles continued to arrive. The heavy police presence was concentrated around the university and CDC grounds, both of which are surrounded by wooded neighborhoods and generally difficult to access.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp praised first responders for their quick actions in securing the scene. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr expressed his concern, stating, “We’re horrified by the news out of Emory University and praying for the safety of the entire campus community.”

Authorities have not released details on the suspect’s identity, possible motives, or whether there were additional victims beyond the injured officer. The condition of the officer has not yet been disclosed.

The incident disrupted what is typically a busy area of northeast Atlanta. The CDC, the nation’s leading public health agency, and Emory University, one of Georgia’s most prominent academic institutions, are key facilities in the region and employ thousands of people.

Witness accounts suggest the shooting began suddenly, with little warning. Employees at nearby establishments reported hearing multiple shots in quick succession, prompting people to flee or take cover. Law enforcement quickly established a perimeter and began clearing the area.

The investigation is ongoing, with local and federal authorities expected to review surveillance footage and interview witnesses. Officials have urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement.

This event adds to a series of violent incidents in public and institutional settings across the country in recent years, prompting continued discussion on campus security measures and the ability of first responders to act swiftly in active shooter scenarios.

The names of all individuals involved, except for public officials and confirmed witnesses, have not been released pending further investigation. Authorities have reiterated that there is no continuing danger to the public but have encouraged vigilance in the community.