The DeKalb County Police Department revealed the identity of the officer who was killed on Friday while responding to an armed individual near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia,
Officer David Rose, aged 33, was shot and killed while addressing the incident at the CDC campus, leading to a shelter-in-place order at nearby Emory University. The alleged gunman, whose identity remains undisclosed, was also killed.
Rose was rushed to Emory University Hospital on Clifton Road, where he died from his injuries.
He began working for the police department last September, the agency said, and is survived by his pregnant wife and two children.
Police officers stand outside the emergency room at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
CDC Director Susan Monarez said the agency was “heartbroken” over Friday’s deadly events.
“A brave local law enforcement officer sacrificed their life, and another was injured, following an assault by a gunman on at least four CDC buildings,” she mentioned in a statement. “DeKalb County police, CDC security, and Emory University responded swiftly and effectively, helping to avert further damage to our staff and community.”
A police officer arrives at the scene of a shooting near Emory University in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Federal and state authorities expressed shock over the shooting and commended law enforcement for their prompt action. U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., was among those who issued statements regarding the heartbreaking event.
“I am mourning the tragic death of the officer who was killed in the line of duty today, and I am sending prayers to the officer’s family and friends. Atlanta law enforcement preserved countless lives, and we are thankful for their dedication,” Warnock said.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) is leading the investigation into the shooting and the FBI’s Atlanta office said it will assist.
