A gunman and a police officer were killed on Thursday in a shooting near the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, prompting a large-scale law enforcement response and heightened security around one of the nation’s most prominent public health facilities.
According to local authorities, the incident began when the suspect opened fire outside the CDC complex, striking and killing a police officer. The attack took place close to the campus of Emory University, raising immediate concerns for public safety in the busy area.
Law enforcement officers quickly responded, securing the scene and conducting an intensive search for the gunman. The suspect was later found dead on the second floor of a building facing the university campus. Investigators have not yet determined whether he was killed by police return fire or died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum confirmed that three additional firearms were recovered at the scene, though it remains unclear how they were used during the attack. “The motive for this act remains unknown at this stage,” he said, adding that authorities are continuing to interview witnesses and review surveillance footage.
Images shared by CDC employees on social media showed bullet holes in the windows of several CDC buildings, underscoring the severity of the shooting. Thousands of scientists, researchers, and staff work in the CDC’s Atlanta headquarters, which conducts vital research on infectious diseases and public health threats.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens described the shooting as a “tragic loss” for the city, offering condolences to the family of the slain officer and pledging full support for the ongoing investigation.
While no additional injuries were reported, the incident has renewed concerns over recurring gun violence at educational institutions and their surrounding areas in the United States. Shootings in and around schools and universities have been a persistent problem nationwide, often resulting in high casualty numbers and sparking debates over gun laws and campus security.
Authorities have not released the identities of either the officer or the suspect, pending notification of their families. The FBI and other federal agencies are assisting Atlanta police in determining the suspect’s background and possible connections.
The CDC headquarters and nearby Emory University campus have since resumed normal operations, though heightened security measures remain in place. Officials urged members of the public to report any information that could help establish the motive or circumstances behind the shooting.
