A gunman went on a shooting rampage outside the Centers for Disease Control building in Atlanta, leaving at least one police officer injured as terrified students at nearby Emory College sheltered in place.
The college sent out a desperate alert pleading with students to ‘RUN. HIDE. FIGHT.’ amid an active shooter at around 4pm, as police swarmed the scene outside campus.
A little over two hours after the alert was sent out, Atlanta Police confirmed that the sole gunman was dead.
‘There is no ongoing threat to the Emory Campus or the surrounding neighborhood. The incident involved a single shooter, who is now deceased,’ Atlanta Police said in a statement.
‘Please avoid the area, as the scene remains active and law enforcement continues its investigation.’
One officer and one civilian were taken to the hospital, Atlanta Police said. Their conditions are unknown.
Multiple gunshots were heard near the main campus of the CDC, which is just down the street from Emory College.
The shooting specifically took place near the CVS located at Emory Point on Clifton Road. Dozens of fully-loaded police ground vehicles and helicopters responded to the area.
Police officers engaged in a firefight with the suspect, according to ABC News, which led to some of the law enforcement vehicles getting hit with gunfire.
At around 5:45pm, a FOX 5 helicopter spotted what appeared to be a body covered in front of a store in the area. It’s not clear if this was the shooter.
There were also a social media reports of bullets hitting CDC Building 21, which serves as the CDC’s headquarters.
A photo shared to social media showed at least two bullet holes in two separate windows, but this has not been confirmed by authorities.
Although the building appeared to be hit, the CDC does not appear to have been breached, according to CNN. However, the entire campus was still on lockdown earlier this evening.
The FBI’s Atlanta office is also aware of the shooting and is ‘coordinating with local partners for any assistance that might be needed.’
Representative Mike Collins, a Republican that represents the suburbs just outside of Atlanta, posted a brief message to social media in the wake of the tragedy.
‘Students at Emory please take cover. Praying for a swift end to this threat,’ he wrote on X.
Also releasing a statement was Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who pointed out that the Emory College shooting represents the second horrific act of violence in the state this week.
The other one he was referring to was the shooting allegedly perpetrated by an Army sergeant at Fort Stewart on Wednesday that injured five soldiers.
‘Twice this week, deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians. Each time, brave first responders rushed toward the danger to subdue the shooter and save lives, reminding us of just how crucial they are,’ Kemp said.
‘We ask that you join us in holding them in our prayers, along with those harmed this evening near the CDC Center,’ he concluded.
There have been limited eyewitness accounts of the attack on Emory College, with most only hearing popping sounds.
However, a facial spa worker reported seeing a police officer shoot at the suspect near the CVS.