Gunman Kills Officer in Shooting Outside CDC Headquarters in Atlanta

A deadly shooting erupted outside the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta on Friday, leaving a police officer and the suspected gunman dead and sending shockwaves through one of the nation’s most important public health hubs.

The violence unfolded near Emory University, prompting an immediate and massive law enforcement response. Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum confirmed that the suspect opened fire on the sprawling CDC campus, leaving bullet holes in the windows of at least four buildings. Thousands of scientists and staff work at the site, but no CDC employees or visitors were injured.

CDC Director Susan Monarez called it an “attack on our Roybal Campus” and announced that Monday will be a remote workday while security assessments are conducted.

The suspected gunman, armed with a long gun, was found dead on the second floor of a building across the street. Authorities also recovered three additional firearms at the scene. Police have not yet determined whether the gunman’s death was self-inflicted or the result of return fire. The motive remains unknown.

The fallen officer was identified as David Rose of the DeKalb County Police Department. County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson shared the heartbreaking toll: “There is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father.”

Witnesses described scenes of panic. Staff at The General Muir restaurant, located nearby, said they ducked for cover after hearing what sounded like “fireworks going off, one right after the other.” People ran past, warning of an active shooter.

For Anurag Mehta, the fear was personal—his 3-year-old son was in a preschool near the CDC. “I was thinking that when I left for work this morning, was that the last time I saw my son?” he recalled. Thankfully, his child was safe.

Governor Brian Kemp condemned the attack, calling it the second time in a week that “deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians,” referencing another recent shooting at Fort Stewart. He praised first responders for rushing toward danger to protect lives.

As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of Officer Rose while grappling with the unsettling reality that even secure institutions like the CDC can become targets of violence.