ATLANTA (AP) A tragic event unfolded outside the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta on Friday when a man opened fire, resulting in the death of a police officer. The gunman left bullet impacts scattered across windows on the expansive campus. Authorities reported that the gunman was later found dead in a nearby building, although it remains unclear whether the death was caused by law enforcement or was self-inflicted.
The incident prompted a significant law enforcement response near the CDC, a distinguished public health institution, and Emory University, but miraculously, no other injuries were reported. Employees shared images showing multiple CDC buildings with bullet-pocked windows, highlighting the extent of damage at a vital center for disease research involving thousands of scientists and staff.
According to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum, the shooter was armed with a long gun, and officials recovered three additional firearms at the site. The motives for the attack have yet to be established, as stated by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.
Details about the police officer who lost his life have not been disclosed, but DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson expressed the heartbreak surrounding this loss. She poignantly remarked, "This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father."
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as the shooting erupted. Staff at a nearby restaurant, The General Muir, took cover and reported hearing a series of gunshots resembling fireworks. Brandy Giraldo, the chief operating officer of the restaurant, recounted seeing people fleeing the area, with some pausing to warn others of the active shooter situation.
Anurag Mehta and his wife were among those who felt the urgent need to reach their 3-year-old son, who was at a preschool near the CDC, but they were unable to approach the area due to the unfolding crisis. Mehta expressed his fear, stating, "I was thinking that when I left for work this morning, was that the last time I saw my son?" Fortunately, he later learned that his son was safe.
The CDC and Emory's main campus are situated in affluent wooded neighborhoods in northeast Atlanta, along Clifton Road. The area typically experiences heavy traffic, yet on Friday, few vehicles were visible as a warning siren echoed through the streets.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp commended the efforts of first responders in light of the violence that has plagued the state. He noted, "Twice this week, deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians," alluding to the CDC shooting and another incident at Fort Stewart. He praised the bravery of first responders who rushed toward danger to subdue the shooter and protect lives, emphasizing their crucial role in such situations.
This report has been corrected to clarify that the deli's name is spelled The General Muir, not General Miur, and to specify that the CDC campus is located in northeast Atlanta.
Contributing writers from the Associated Press include Safiyah Riddle, Russ Bynum, Mike Stobbe, Alanna Durkin Richer, and Jesse Bedayn.
