Gunman Targets CDC in Atlanta Shooting: Active Shooter Incident Leaves One Officer Dead, Triggers Campus-wide Lockdown
In an unexpected turn of events, a gunman opened fire on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) campus in Atlanta, Georgia, causing widespread panic. The shooting occurred across the street from Emory University’s sprawling campus, at the Emory Point CVS drugstore on Clifton Road.
The assailant, whose identity remains undisclosed, is believed to have targeted the CDC due to anti-vaccine sentiments. According to law enforcement sources, he may have been influenced by personal health concerns that he attributed to the Covid-19 vaccine.
Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the attack. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens noted that the alleged shooter had shown interest in certain matters, but these details cannot be confirmed until the investigation is complete.
The shooting started around 5 p.m., prompting a tense lockdown that lasted into the night. Witnesses reported hearing numerous gunshots and described the scene as one of total fear.
Officer David Rose, a 33-year-old rookie with DeKalb County Police, was tragically killed during the incident. He would have marked his first anniversary on the job next month.
Rose was shot while responding to the scene. A high school student, Hayes Parsa, witnessed Rose receiving CPR at Emory University Hospital before he passed away. Parsa had received an emergency alert on his phone instructing him to “run, hide, fight” and was waiting for a bus when the incident occurred.
The gunman was armed with two handguns, a rifle, a shotgun, and two backpacks filled with ammunition. He was found dead on the second floor of the CVS store. The cause of his death is yet to be determined—whether he died from police fire or self-inflicted wounds remains unclear.
Employees at the CDC described a situation that could have been much worse, with bullet holes in windows and shattered glass on the floor inside one building. The rounds of ammunition flew just above a line of office cubicles where employees were seated. One employee expressed gratitude for their miraculous escape from harm.
The shooting has added to the turmoil that the CDC and its staff have faced over the past year. Mayor Dickens acknowledged the challenges that CDC employees have endured, expressing his sympathy and offering support. The agency has experienced significant workforce cuts and budget reductions, leading to uncertainty about the future of CDC programs.