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A gunman opened fire outside the CDC building in Atlanta, injuring at least one police officer and causing panic among Emory College students who were instructed to shelter in place.
The college issued an urgent alert advising students to ‘RUN. HIDE. FIGHT.’ around 4pm during the active shooter situation, as police converged on the area outside the campus.
Several gunshots were heard near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s main campus, located close to Emory College.
One officer and one civilian were taken to the hospital, Atlanta police said. Their conditions are unknown.
A student at their apartment near the campus recorded a video where gunshots were audible.
The CVS is located at Emory Point on Clifton Road. Dozens of fully-loaded police ground vehicles and helicopters responded to the area.
Law enforcement officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect, with reports from ABC News indicating that some police vehicles were hit by bullets.
The shooter’s status is currently unknown, although a FOX 5 helicopter observed what seemed to be a covered body outside a store at approximately 5:45pm. This detail has yet to be confirmed by authorities.
Emory College students were instructed to take immediate safety measures, as evidenced by the heavy police presence captured in aerial images (Pictured: An aerial view of police activity near the college).
Pictured: The terrifying message from Emory College telling students to ‘run, hide, fight’
Pictured: Bullet holes are seen in Building 21 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is just down the road from Emory College
Pictured: An ambulance is seen near Emory Point, where the shooting took place. Its not clear if this is the civilian or the police officer being rushed to the hospital
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 is still on lockdown.
As of 6pm ET, Emory College was still telling students to shelter in place and avoid the area of the shooting.
The Dekalb County Police Department is also warning people to stay indoors as it pursues their investigation.
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.
