Deadly shooting near CDC, Emory University
A barrage of gunfire near the CDC has led to a lockdown at a daycare and Emory University. DeKalb County law enforcement mourns the loss of one of their officers, who was killed in the shooting.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. – Authorities say both a suspected active shooter and a police officer were killed in a gunfight outside an Emory Point CVS, near the CDC and Emory University campus, on Friday afternoon.
“That was an active shooter incident. The shooter is now deceased,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said during a news conference.
What we know:
Shots shattered the routine of a typical Friday afternoon along Clifton Road, replacing normalcy with confusion and fear.
Gunfire erupted inside the CVS at 1600 Clifton Road, directly across from the main entrance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s main campus, around 4:50 p.m.
During the incident, the suspect fired multiple rounds at the CDC building, breaking windows, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said.
The CDC, Emory University, and Emory University Hospital were quickly placed on lockdown, along with several nearby smaller schools and daycares.
Multiple agencies respond
What they’re saying:
Schierbaum said officers from multiple agencies rushed to the scene and found the shooter on the second floor of the CVS. During the confrontation, a DeKalb County police officer was struck by one of the many bullets fired by the suspect.
“Officers moved quickly to attempt to find the shooter and to neutralize the threat to the community,” Schierbaum said. “We later found the shooter on the second floor of the CVS. He had been struck by gunfire. We do not know at this time whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted.”
The shooter died at the scene. Investigators have not yet determined whether the fatal wound was self-inflicted or the result of police gunfire.
“We do believe there was a single shooter, and we do believe that single shooter is deceased,” Schierbaum said. “We want to reassure all parents and loved ones that their children are okay.”
Law enforcement is seen near the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) Global Headquarters during an active shooter incident on August 8, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)
The DeKalb police officer, later identified as David Rose, was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition but did not survive his injuries.
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Four other individuals were treated at a hospital for stress and anxiety but were not physically harmed.
Multiple guns found
The shooter was armed with a long gun, and authorities recovered three additional firearms at the scene, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
Gunshots, sirens heard from Emory shooting
Gunshots followed by sirens could be heard during an active shooting situation near the campuses of Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s main offices.
Officials declined to confirm the type of weapon used, whether the CDC was intentionally targeted, or the suspect’s motive. Social media rumors about the suspect’s background and views on COVID-19 vaccines have not been substantiated, Mayor Dickens said during the press conference.
Police said the situation was contained by 6:30 p.m.
The Dance 101 Studio, located in the same complex, canceled classes Friday night following the shooting.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now leading the case, with assistance from the Atlanta Police Department’s Complex Case Squad and the FBI.
What we don’t know:
The name of the shooter has not been released. A motive is now under investigation.
DeKalb County police officer killed
Big picture view:
Officer David Rose, 33, was identified as the DeKalb County police officer killed in the line of duty on Friday.
Rose joined the DeKalb County Police Department in September 2024 and was assigned to the North Central precinct. He is survived by his wife and two children, with a third child on the way.
“He was committed to serving the community,” Interim Police Chief Greg Padrick said. “At this time we’re asking for the community’s prayers for his family, his friends, his loved ones and the entire DeKalb County Police Department family.”
Remembering Officer David Rose
DeKalb County police officer David Rose was shot and killed during an active-shooter incident at a CVS near Emory University.
The interim chief confirmed the officer’s death during a news conference outside Emory University Hospital.
“With profound sadness, we announce the loss of the life of one of our very own DeKalb County Police officers,” Padrick said. “This officer responded to the call as he was trained to do. During that incident, he received gunfire and he lost his life. He was committed to serving the community.”
He asked the public to keep the officer’s loved ones, friends and fellow officers in their thoughts.
DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson said the fallen officer leaves behind a wife, three children — one of whom is unborn — as well as parents and siblings.
“Today is a very dark day in DeKalb County,” Cochran Johnson said. “There is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father. These are individuals who run toward danger when we have the ability to run away.”
The DeKab County District Attorney released a statement reading:
“My team and I have been in close contact with our law enforcement partners throughout today’s events near the Centers for Disease Control and Emory University. We were devastated to learn about the tragic passing of an officer with the DeKalb County Police Department who bravely answered the call when our community needed him most. Earlier this evening, I called Interim Chief Padrick to offer my and my office’s deepest condolences. My heart goes out to the officer’s family, friends, and the DeKalb County community as we all mourn this tremendous loss.”
Fear grips Emory University, CDC campuses
What they’re saying:
Parents, hospital visitors and students near Emory University described tense moments Friday as an active-shooter situation unfolded just blocks from the Clifton School, a preschool on Clifton Road.
Joel Miller, whose 5-year-old son, Emmeth, attends the school, said he and other parents waited nearby for updates. “We’ve just been waiting here to get information from his school, the Clifton School,” Miller said. “They’ve been really good at texting us and using their application on our phone just to keep us updated.”
Miller said the school notified families every 15 to 20 minutes, assuring them that all students and staff were safe. “I’m sure they’re all hungry, but sometimes you can’t do anything about that, but they’re okay,” he said.
While praising the school’s communication and police response, Miller acknowledged the fear that came with the situation. “It’s terrifying. Very few things can keep me awake at night. This would be one, top of the list,” he said. “The police have been great. Even talking to the reporters, they’ve been willing to share with us what’s going on. School’s been really good. This is not something that you ever want to have to go through. You can’t really understand it until you’re a parent and it’s your kid.”
By early afternoon, Miller said officials began lifting restrictions and preparing to reunite children with their families. “They’re working on the timing so it’s probably going to be, I guess, probably an hour or so,” he said. “Considering the situation, they’ve been real good and I really appreciate it.”
Another bystander, Vyas, a student at Emory University, said he was also in the area during the incident.
Inside a nearby hospital, one visitor described being on lockdown with her mother for about an hour and a half. “We heard the sirens going, we heard the helicopters going, and they had us wait for about an hour and a half on lockdown,” she said. “Then I turned on the TV to see what the news said, and here it was, an active shooter. They didn’t know how many people were being active, if it was a group or what.”
She said she was on the seventh floor when staff locked all the doors. “You couldn’t go out or you couldn’t leave or come in,” she said, adding that her mother slept through the ordeal. They learned the lockdown was lifted when another person in the room received a text message from the hospital.
“I don’t want to be a victim, that was it,” she said. “Didn’t want to be a victim, no part of it, so I’m on my way home.”
She added that she typically visits the hospital’s Midtown location instead of Clifton Road. “First time,” she said. “You won’t see me back.”
Elsewhere, people who had been locked down in residences near the shooting scene began walking out on foot because vehicles were not allowed in or out of the immediate area.
Miss Briggs said she learned of the danger when her daughter, who lives at Emory Point, called to say she had heard gunshots. “She just told me what was going on, that she just heard gunshots and that there was an active shooter and that they were on lockdown,” Briggs said.
She told her daughter to “stay away from the windows and be safe, don’t open the door for anyone and I’ll be there soon.” Briggs said communication from agencies was strong, but her daughter struggled to know what to believe with so many conflicting reports. “I just told her, I’m like, well, I’ll get there and I’ll see what I can, if it looks safe, then you come out,” Briggs said.
Her daughter described sitting in her living room on what began as a normal afternoon when she heard rapid gunfire. “One of my friends had sent me a screenshot that Emory had sent out. The gunshots really popping rapidly… it wasn’t just quick and it’s over. It went on.”
Emory University lockdown lifted
Timeline:
An alert from Emory University went out Friday afternoon advising there was an “active shooter” at the CVS on campus to “RUN, HIDE, FIGHT. Avoid the area.”
Emory University and Emory University Hospital were immediately placed on lockdown.
Just before 6:30 p.m., Emory officials reported the shelter in place had been lifted.
Centers for Disease Control daycare
Ninety-two children inside a daycare on the campus at the time of the shooting were unharmed. They were later taken to a reunification site at 1900 Starvine Way, where parents picked them up under police supervision.
CDC employees kept inside for hours
What we know:
According to a CDC employee who did not want their name used in this report, those inside the CDC main campus are being held and not being allowed to leave.
CDC employees were notified by email around 5:10 p.m. about the active shooter situation.
Photos circulating online show bullet holes in the glass of the building, but that has not been independently confirmed.
The CDC employees were not allowed to leave the campus until several hours after the shooting ended.
FBI, federal response
What they’re saying:
The FBI Atlanta field office released a statement shortly before 6 p.m. which read:
“FBI Atlanta is aware of the incident on Clifton Road in DeKalb County and is enroute and cooperating with local partners for any assistance that might be needed.”
Sen. Jon Ossoff, whose wife graduated from Emory University and still has close ties, released this statement:
“Tonight’s shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and near Emory University has shaken our community. Alisha and I send our prayers to the family of the officer killed in this attack and the entire CDC and Emory communities in light of this terrible act.
“We also express our gratitude to all of the first responders who provided medical assistance and secured the scene.
“My office is in close contact with leadership at Emory University, the CDC, and local law enforcement and will continue to stand with our community to deliver support.”
Sen. Raphael Warnock released a statement that reads:
“I am mourning the tragic death of the officer who was killed in the line of duty today, and I am praying for the officer’s family and friends. Georgia law enforcement saved countless lives, and we are grateful for their service.
“Earlier this year, I stood where this shooting occurred, rallying for fired CDC employees who work tirelessly to protect our public health and national security. CDC workers are our friends, our colleagues, and our neighbors. I will always have the backs of Georgia’s dedicated public health workers.”
CVS releases statement
What they’re saying:
A corporate spokesperson for CVS Health provided this comment:
“We’re cooperating with the Atlanta Police Department as it investigates this afternoon’s shooting. None of our colleagues, customers or patients were hurt. The store is currently closed and will reopen when the scene is cleared.”
Gov. Kemp releases statement
What they’re saying:
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp released a statement on X that reads:
“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. Marty, the girls, and I are thankful for all those who answer the call to serve and who protect their fellow Georgians. We ask that you join us in holding them in our prayers, along with those harmed this evening near the CDC Center.”
DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson echoed those sentiments, writing:
“My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by today’s incident on the Emory campus. I am grateful for the swift and coordinated response from our law enforcement agencies and first responders. We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as they become available. I urge everyone to stay alert, remain indoors, and follow official guidance as we allow law enforcement to complete their investigation.”
Dickens praised the rapid multi-agency response, which included Atlanta and DeKalb police, Emory University police, the FBI, GBI, Georgia State Patrol, and other departments from across the metro area.
“My heart goes out to the men and women who work at the CDC,” Dickens said. “We are with you. We stand with you. And we are doing everything we can to bring resolve to this situation.”
Where is Emory University?
Dig deeper:
Emory University, one of the nation’s leading private research institutions, traces its roots to 1836 when it was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in Oxford, Georgia, about 35 miles east of Atlanta. Named for Methodist bishop John Emory, the school began as a small liberal arts college before gradually expanding its academic offerings and reputation.
In 1915, Coca-Cola Company founder Asa Candler donated land and funds to move Emory to Atlanta’s Druid Hills neighborhood. The relocation allowed the university to grow alongside the city’s emerging medical and cultural centers. The Emory University Hospital opened in 1922, and the university soon established a medical school that became a hub for health research and training.
Over the decades, Emory expanded into nine academic divisions, including highly ranked programs in law, business, theology, public health, and nursing. The university is also known for its close affiliation with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, headquartered adjacent to its main campus.
Today, Emory enrolls more than 15,000 students and is recognized for its research in public health, biomedical sciences, and the humanities, as well as its commitment to community service in Atlanta and beyond.
What is Emory Point?
Dig deeper:
Emory Point, a mixed-use development in the Druid Hills neighborhood, is a mixed-use development near Emory University and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention main campus.
The complex, which opened in 2012, sits along Clifton Road across from the CDC and within walking distance of Emory University Hospital. It features residential units aimed at professionals, students and medical staff who work or study nearby.
Emory Point’s retail section includes national chains and locally owned businesses, offering restaurants, fitness studios and service shops. The development was designed to be pedestrian-friendly, with access to Emory’s shuttle system for residents and visitors.
Developers have marketed the project as a “live-work-play” community that caters to the needs of those connected to Emory and surrounding institutions.
Late Friday evening, the complex released the following statement:
“We are relieved to inform you that the active shooter situation near our building has been resolved.
“Law enforcement has confirmed that the shelter in place order has been lifted, and there is no ongoing threat. We anticipate the area surrounding our community will remain an active scene for some time.We are very grateful to law enforcement and the first responders for their swift response and work to protect our community. Please know that details remain limited and we will continue to cooperate closely with law enforcement’s ongoing investigation.
“We understand this has been a stressful experience, and we appreciate your cooperation and calm during the incident. Your wellbeing is always our highest priority.”
The Source: Emory University, Emory University Police Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta Police Department, DeKalb County, DeKalb County Police Department, the FBI, the GBI, Gov. Brian Kemp, CVS Health, and multiple witnesses spoke with FOX 5 Atlanta for this article. FOX News and the Associated Press contributed to this report. This story has been updated since it was originally published to add new details.
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