A law enforcement officer lost his life in a tragic shooting incident outside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta on Friday. The assailant, who was reportedly suffering from an illness he attributed to the COVID-19 vaccine, opened fire on several CDC buildings before storming a CVS building at Georgia’s Emory University. The suspect was later found dead at the scene.
The incident occurred around 4:50 p.m., prompting students to take shelter on the last day of the summer term. Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum reported that the shooter, a white male, fired multiple rounds at law enforcement and the health agency. The CDC campus also houses a daycare center, which was caring for 92 children at the time of the incident. All children were reported safe.
Eyewitnesses reported that the shooter was armed with multiple firearms, including two handguns, a rifle, and a shotgun. He was seen wearing what appeared to be a surgical mask as he targeted the CDC buildings. One CDC employee recounted seeing the gunman approach the steps of the agency’s campus, place a backpack on the ground, and begin firing at the building.
The CDC campus was placed on lockdown for several hours following the incident. Officials worked diligently to reunite the daycare children with their parents. The health agency expressed their heartbreak over the incident, particularly the loss of a local law enforcement officer, and pledged to work closely with federal, state, and local partners to investigate the crime.
The fallen officer, identified as DeKalb County officer David Rose, was found on the second floor of the CVS building with a fatal gunshot wound. Officer Rose, who is survived by his pregnant wife and two children, was rushed to a nearby hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson expressed her condolences at a press conference, praising Officer Rose’s unwavering commitment to his community.
The shooter’s father had reportedly alerted authorities that his son might be suicidal shortly before the incident. However, it remains unclear how much time had passed between the call and the attack. The shooter was reportedly unwell, with his family attributing his illness to the COVID-19 vaccine in police interviews.
Emory University officials issued an urgent alert around 5 p.m., advising students to seek shelter. Local, state, and federal officers quickly arrived on the scene. Social media videos captured the rapid gunfire as first responders rushed to the college. The lockdown was lifted by 6:30 p.m.
The motive behind the shooting has not yet been publicly disclosed by the police. The investigation into this tragic incident continues.