Police gathered near the CDC’s Global Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, during an active shooter situation on August 8, 2025. People.com
A deadly shooting happened Friday evening near Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. Police say both a suspect and a law enforcement officer died in the incident.
The first 911 calls came in around 4:50 p.m. reporting an active shooter at 1600 Clifton Road, just outside the CDC campus. The shooter wore a surgical mask, ear protection, and carried two handguns, a rifle, and a shotgun.
Officer Identified
Responding officers found DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, 33, critically injured. He later died from his wounds. Officials say Rose leaves behind a pregnant wife and two children.
“This evening, there is a wife without a husband… and three children, one unborn, without a father,” said DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson.
Gunfire Inside CVS
Gunshots were heard inside a CVS store nearby. Officers entered and found the suspect on the second floor. He had been hit by gunfire, though it is unclear if the injuries were self-inflicted or from police fire. The suspect died at the scene. His identity has not yet been released.
CDC Buildings Struck
Police say multiple bullets hit CDC buildings, but no one there was injured. At the time, 92 children were in the CDC daycare center, all unharmed.
By 6:30 p.m., police had contained the situation. The FBI and Georgia Bureau of Investigation are now handling the case.
Motive Still Under Investigation
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said the investigation is in its early stages. He did not confirm whether the CDC was the target but hinted the suspect may have had personal beliefs related to illness and the COVID-19 vaccine.
Authorities say the suspect’s family told them he was either sick or believed he was sick and blamed the vaccine.
Community Shock and Witness Accounts
No civilians were shot, but four people went to the hospital for stress and anxiety symptoms.
One CDC employee recalled hearing “six or seven shots” in quick succession. Witness Brandy Giraldo said it sounded “like fireworks going off.”
Randy Gold, leaving a nearby hospital, described a sudden rush of people running toward him—doctors, nurses, and valet workers—shouting about an active shooter.
State Leaders Respond
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp condemned the violence, noting it was the second major shooting in the state that week.
Attorney General Chris Carr expressed support for law enforcement and the community, saying officials stand ready to help in any way needed.
