On Friday afternoon, a police officer was tragically killed in a shooting incident near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters and Emory University's Atlanta campus. According to authorities, the situation unfolded when an active shooter opened fire, leading to chaos in the area. The officer, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, was a member of the DeKalb County Police Department and was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where he was later pronounced dead.
During a press conference held Friday evening, Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, the DeKalb County CEO, expressed her condolences, stating that it was a dark day for the county. She revealed that the fallen officer leaves behind a pregnant wife and two young children, highlighting the profound impact of this tragedy on his family and the community.
The Atlanta Police Department reported that the suspect involved in the shooting was found dead from a gunshot wound, which may have been self-inflicted. Fortunately, no civilians were injured during this terrifying incident. Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum confirmed that the suspect fired multiple rounds at the CDC building, causing several windows to shatter. At the time of the shooting, there were 92 children at a day care center located on the CDC campus, all of whom were unharmed.
The gunfire was first reported at approximately 4:50 p.m. Responding officers from the DeKalb County Police Department quickly located the suspect on the second floor of the Emory Point CVS Pharmacy, situated across the street from the CDC. An attempt to engage the suspect resulted in an exchange of gunfire. Additionally, four individuals were transported to a local hospital due to stress and anxiety-related symptoms stemming from the incident.
In the wake of the shooting, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the Emory University campus, which was later lifted as the situation stabilized. The university urged individuals to "RUN. HIDE. FIGHT." in their alert, emphasizing the need for caution and safety.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp released a statement on social media platform X, expressing gratitude to first responders for their bravery in confronting the shooter and working to save lives. He called for the community to keep those affected by the shooting, including the victims and their families, in their thoughts and prayers.
The FBI Atlanta and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are currently conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr also issued a statement expressing horror at the news from Emory University and praying for the safety of the entire campus community.
As the situation develops, the White House is closely monitoring the events, as confirmed by an official to ABC News. This remains an evolving story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
