A gunman went on a shooting rampage outside the CDC building in Atlanta, leaving at least one police officer injured as terrified students at nearby Emory College sheltered in place.
The college sent out a desperate alert pleading with students to ‘RUN. HIDE. FIGHT.’ amid an active shooter at around 4pm, as police swarmed the scene outside campus.
Multiple gunshots were heard near the main campus of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is just down the street from Emory College.
One officer and one civilian were taken to the hospital, Atlanta police said. Their conditions are unknown.
A student at their apartment near the campus recorded a video where gunshots were audible.
The CVS is located at Emory Point on Clifton Road. Dozens of fully-loaded police ground vehicles and helicopters responded to the area.
Police officers engaged in a firefight with the suspect, according to ABC News, which led to some of the law enforcement vehicles getting hit with gunfire.
The status of the shooter is unknown, although at around 5:45pm, a FOX 5 helicopter spotted what appeared to be a body covered in front of a store in the area. This hasn’t been confirmed by the authorities.
College students at Emory in Georgia, were told to run, hide, or fight following the active shooter alert (Pictured: An aerial view of the massive police presence near the college)
Pictured: The terrifying message from Emory College telling students to ‘run, hide, fight’
Pictured: Bullet holes are seen in Building 21 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is just down the road from Emory College
Pictured: An ambulance is seen near Emory Point, where the shooting took place. Its not clear if this is the civilian or the police officer being rushed to the hospital
There were also a social media reports of bullets hitting CDC Building 21, which serves as the CDC’s headquarters.
A photo shared to social media showed at least two bullet holes in two separate windows, but this has not been confirmed by authorities.
Although the building appeared to be hit, the CDC does not appear to have been breached, according to CNN. However, the entire campus is still on lockdown.
As of 6pm ET, Emory College was still telling students to shelter in place and avoid the area of the shooting.
The Dekalb County Police Department is also warning people to stay indoors as it pursues their investigation.
The FBI’s Atlanta office is also aware of the shooting and is ‘coordinating with local partners for any assistance that might be needed.’
Representative Mike Collins, a Republican that represents the suburbs just outside of Atlanta, posted a brief message to social media in the wake of the tragedy.
‘Students at Emory please take cover. Praying for a swift end to this threat,’ he wrote on X.
Pictured: A map of the key areas in the shooting at Emory College and the CDC on Thursday
Also releasing a statement was Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who pointed out that the Emory College shooting represents the second horrific act of violence in the state this week.
The other one he was referring to was the shooting allegedly perpetrated by an Army sergeant at Fort Stewart on Wednesday that injured five soldiers.
‘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,’ Kemp said.
‘We ask that you join us in holding them in our prayers, along with those harmed this evening near the CDC Center,’ he concluded.
