DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. – An active shooter was killed and a police officer critically injured on Friday afternoon during a gun battle at a Emory Point CVS near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Emory University campus, authorities said.
Law enforcement officials are going building-by-building to clear people out and make sure no one else was injured.
Active shooting near Emory University
Timeline:
Shots broke the normal Friday afternoon route along Clifton Road. Alert, confusion, and fear followed.
Those shots were being fired inside the CVS store located at 1600 Clifton Road, across the street from the main entrance to the main campus to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Authorities said gunfire struck multiple CDC buildings.
The CDC, Emory University, and Emory University Hospital were quickly placed on lockdown, as did some nearby smaller schools and daycares.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said officers from multiple agencies rushed to the scene and found the shooter on the second floor of the CVS building.
He had been struck by gunfire and died at the scene. Investigators have not determined whether the deadly wound was self-inflicted or caused by police.
“We do believe there was a single shooter, and we do believe that single shooter is deceased,” Schierbaum said. “We want to reassure all parents and loved ones that their children are okay.”
Four other people were treated at a hospital for stress and anxiety but were not physically injured.
Ninety-two children inside a daycare on the campus were unharmed and will be reunited with their families at the Clifton School in Decatur.
Officials declined to confirm the type of weapon used, whether the CDC was intentionally targeted, or the suspect’s motive. Social media rumors about the suspect’s background and views on COVID-19 vaccines have not been substantiated, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now the lead on the investigation with the assistance of the Atlanta Police Department’s Complex Case Squad and the FBI.
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SKYFOX 5 flew over the scene to find several police vehicles had been shot up and some leaking fluids. Dozens of fully-loaded police vehicles responded to the scene.
Police said the situation was contained as of 6:30 p.m.
The Dance 101 Studio, located in the same complex, canceled their classes on Friday night following the shooting.
What we don’t know:
The name of the shooter has not been released. A motive is now under investigation.
The identity of the officer injured and a current condition were not immediately available.
Fear grips Emory University, CDC campuses
What they’re saying:
Parents, hospital visitors and students near Emory University described tense moments Friday as an active shooter situation unfolded just blocks from the Clifton School, a preschool on Clifton Road.
Joel Miller, whose 5-year-old son Emmeth attends the school, said he and other parents waited nearby for updates. “We’ve just been waiting here to get information from his school, the Clifton School,” Miller said. “They’ve been really good at texting us and using their application on our phone just to keep us updated.”
Miller said the school notified families every 15 to 20 minutes, assuring them that all students and staff were safe. “I’m sure they’re all hungry, but sometimes you can’t do anything about that, but they’re okay,” he said.
While praising the school’s communication and police response, Miller acknowledged the fear that came with the situation. “It’s terrifying. Very few things can keep me awake at night. This would be one, top of the list,” he said. “The police have been great. Even talking to the reporters, they’ve been willing to share with us what’s going on. School’s been really good. This is not something that you ever want to have to go through. You can’t really understand it until you’re a parent and it’s your kid.”
By early afternoon, Miller said officials began lifting restrictions and preparing to reunite children with their families. “They’re working on the timing so it’s probably going to be, I guess, probably an hour or so,” he said. “Considering the situation, they’ve been real good and I really appreciate it.”
Another bystander, Vyas, a student at Emory University, said he was also in the area during the incident.
Inside a nearby hospital, one visitor described being on lockdown with her mother for about an hour and a half. “We heard the sirens going, we heard the helicopters going, and they had us wait for about an hour and a half on lockdown,” she said. “Then I turned on the TV to see what the news said, and here it was, an active shooter. They didn’t know how many people were being active, if it was a group or what.”
She said she was on the seventh floor when staff locked all the doors. “You couldn’t go out or you couldn’t leave or come in,” she said, adding that her mother slept through the ordeal. They learned the lockdown was lifted when another person in the room received a text message from the hospital.
“I don’t want to be a victim, that was it,” she said. “Didn’t want to be a victim, no part of it, so I’m on my way home.”
She added that she typically visits the hospital’s Midtown location instead of Clifton Road. “First time,” she said. “You won’t see me back.”
Elsewhere, people who had been locked down in residences near the shooting scene began walking out on foot because vehicles were not being allowed in or out of the immediate area.
Miss Briggs said she learned of the danger when her daughter, who lives at Emory Point, called to say she had heard gunshots. “She just told me what was going on, that she just heard gunshots and that there was an active shooter and that they were on lockdown,” Briggs said.
She told her daughter to “stay away from the windows and be safe, don’t open the door for anyone and I’ll be there soon.” Briggs said communication from agencies was strong, but her daughter struggled to know what to believe with so many conflicting reports. “I just told her, I’m like, well, I’ll get there and I’ll see what I can, if it looks safe, then you come out,” Briggs said.
Her daughter described sitting in her living room on what began as a normal afternoon when she heard rapid gunfire. “One of my friends had sent me a screenshot that Emory had sent out. The gunshots really popping rapidly… it wasn’t just quick and it’s over. It went on.”
Emory University lockdown lifted
Timeline:
An alert from Emory University went out Friday afternoon advising there was an “active shooter” at the CVS on campus to “RUN, HIDE, FIGHT. Avoid the area”
Emory University and Emory University Hospital were immediately placed on lockdown.
Just before 6:30 p.m., Emory officials reported the shelter in place had been lifted.
Centers for Disease Control response
Big picture view:
FOX 5 crews heard what sounded like gunshots coming from the CDC campus.
A CDC employee who did not want to be identified shared these images with FOX 5 of bullet holes in the glass of the main campus building during an active shooter along Clifton Road in Atlanta on Aug. 8, 2025. (FOX 5 Atlanta obtained permission from the rights holder)
According to a CDC employee who did not want their name used in this report, those inside the CDC main campus are being held and not being allowed to leave. Photos circulating online show bullet holes in the glass of the building, but that has not been independently confirmed.
CDC employees were notified by email around 5:10 p.m. about the active shooter situation.
FBI investigating
What they’re saying:
The FBI Atlanta field office released a statement shortly before 6 p.m. which reads:
“FBI Atlanta is aware of the incident on Clifton Road in DeKalb County and is enroute and cooperating with local partners for any assistance that might be needed.”
Clifton Road closed
Local perspective:
According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, Clifton Road NE between Briarcliff Road NE and Haygood Drive is closed due to this incident. Traffic along Houston Mill Road, Briarcliff Road, and North Decatur Road are all facing delays.
There are police vehicles lining many of those roadways.
Kemp releases statement
What they’re saying:
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp released a statement on X that reads:
“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. Marty, the girls, and I are thankful for all those who answer the call to serve and who protect their fellow Georgians. We ask that you join us in holding them in our prayers, along with those harmed this evening near the CDC Center.”
DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson echoed those sentiments writing:
“My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by today’s incident on the Emory campus. I am grateful for the swift and coordinated response from our law enforcement agencies and first responders. We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as they become available. I urge everyone to stay alert, remain indoors, and follow official guidance as we allow law enforcement to complete their investigation.”
Dickens praised the rapid multi-agency response, which included Atlanta and DeKalb police, Emory University police, the FBI, GBI, Georgia State Patrol, and other departments from across the metro area.
“My heart goes out to the men and women who work at the CDC,” Dickens said. “We are with you. We stand with you. And we are doing everything we can to bring resolve to this situation.”
What is Emory Point?
Dig deeper:
Emory Point, a mixed-use development in the Druid Hills neighborhood, is a mixed-use development near Emory University and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention main campus.
The complex, which opened in 2012, sits along Clifton Road across from the CDC and within walking distance of Emory University Hospital. It features residential units aimed at professionals, students and medical staff who work or study nearby.
Emory Point’s retail section includes national chains and locally owned businesses, offering restaurants, fitness studios and service shops. The development was designed to be pedestrian-friendly, with access to Emory’s shuttle system for residents and visitors.
Developers have marketed the project as a “live-work-play” community that caters to the needs of those connected to Emory and surrounding institutions.
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The Source: Emory University, Emory University Police Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta Police Department, DeKalb County, DeKalb County Police Department, the FBI, the GBI, Gov. Brian Kemp, and multiple witnesses spoke with FOX 5 Atlanta for this article. FOX News contributed to this report.
Great Job Travis.Maurer@fox.com (Travis Maurer) & the Team @ Latest News | FOX 7 Source link for sharing this story.
