Emory University Shooting: A gunman armed with multiple firearms opened fire outside the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in northeast Atlanta on Friday, killing a police officer and shattering windows across several CDC buildings before being found dead in a nearby structure, authorities said. The attack, which occurred close to Emory University’s Atlanta campus on Clifton Road, drew a huge law enforcement response to one of America’s most secure and prominent public health facilities. Authorities have confirmed that there were no other CDC staff or civilians hurt in the attack.
What Actually Happened In Atlanta?
According to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum, the first emergency call came in at 4:50 p.m., reporting an “active shooter” at the CVS in Emory Point, adjacent to the CDC and Emory University. One responding DeKalb County police officer was left critically wounded in the first fire. The officer, whose identity has not been made public, died later from his injuries. Police found the gunman on the second floor of a building across from the CDC campus. He had been shot several times and was dead at the scene. Authorities have not said whether the injuries were self-inflicted or from returning fire from officers.
Authorities confirmed the attacker used a long gun and fired at multiple CDC structures, leaving bullet holes in windows across different floors. Three additional firearms were recovered from the location. The CDC campus, which is home to thousands of disease prevention and outbreak response scientists and researchers working on critical tasks, was immediately locked down.
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Brandy Giraldo, The General Muir restaurant’s chief operating officer, described the scene as chaotic, “It sounded like fireworks detonating, one after another. Then we saw people running by, warning us there was a shooter.” Anurag Mehta, whose son goes to a preschool near the CDC and is 3 years old, described the panic: I was wondering if when I headed to work this morning, was that the last time I saw my son?” He subsequently verified his child was in good health. DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson reflected tearfully on the murdered officer, “This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father.” Georgia Governor Brian Kemp denounced the assault and lauded law enforcement: “Twice this week, deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians. Brave first responders rushed toward the danger to subdue the shooter and save lives, reminding us of just how crucial they are.”
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The CDC and Emory University are situated in one of Atlanta’s safest and wealthiest neighborhoods, flanked by thick forests and heavy traffic sections. On Friday, the usually congested Clifton Road was uncharacteristically deserted as police sirens and warning messages reverberated across the region. The motive for the shooting is still under investigation by several agencies, including the FBI and Georgia Bureau of Investigation.