Officer killed in shooting near Emory University, CDC headquarters in Atlanta
(NEXSTAR) – A police officer was killed and a suspected gunman is dead after an active shooting near the adjoining campuses of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University in Atlanta Friday.
No civilians are believed to have been injured, but several rounds hit buildings on the CDC's sprawling campus, said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.
One officer "received gunfire" while responding to the incident and was critically injured, DeKalb County Police Chief Gregory Patrick said Friday evening.
The shooting was reported at a CVS Pharmacy at Emory Point, located down the street from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, also in Atlanta.
Atlanta police confirmed the shooter, who had been armed with a long gun, was now dead. DeKalb County Police said the gunman was found on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDC.
“We do not know at this time whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted,” Schierbaum said. A white car with an open truck was part of the crime scene and is being searched, he added, but it's still unclear if it belonged to the suspect.
Authorities said there is no longer a threat to the public. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said the man's motive is not known because the investigation is still in the “preliminary stages.”
Staff at a nearby deli said they heard what sounded like a string of gunshots. “It sounded like fireworks going off, one right after the other,” said Brandy Giraldo, the chief operating officer of The General Muir restaurant.
On Friday night, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said that it was the second time this week "deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians, referring to the shooting at Fort Stewart.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.