Police in Atlanta rushed to Emory University on Friday after receiving reports of an active shooter near the entrance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The alarming situation triggered a swift and intense law enforcement response as students, staff, and faculty were urged to take immediate safety precautions.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether anyone was injured, and details about the suspect remain limited. The university’s emergency alert system issued a stark warning, instructing everyone on campus to shelter in place and follow the “RUN, HIDE, FIGHT” protocol — a standard response in active shooter situations. Students and employees were told to stay away from the area entirely until officials declared it safe.
At least 1 police officer down as Georgia's Emory College report active shooter on Atlanta campus near Emory Point.pic.twitter.com/Pj1SHLGJho
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Witnesses described a tense and frightening scene. Businesses close to the university quickly locked their doors as the situation unfolded. At The General Muir, a popular deli near campus, employees secured the entrance and took cover inside. Brandy Giraldo, the restaurant’s chief operating officer, said her staff heard a rapid succession of loud bangs just before locking down.
“It sounded like fireworks going off, one right after the other,” Giraldo recalled. “We didn’t know if it was outside or getting closer, but everyone went quiet and stayed down.”
Atlanta police confirmed they were actively responding to the incident and working with university security to sweep the area. Their priority was ensuring the safety of students, faculty, and nearby residents, as well as locating the source of the gunfire.
Emory University, located in the Druid Hills neighborhood of Atlanta, is home to thousands of students and sits just steps away from the CDC’s main headquarters, a high-security federal facility.
While the proximity to such a sensitive location raised concerns, officials did not immediately say if there was any connection between the shooting reports and the CDC.
The campus remained under lockdown into the afternoon as law enforcement conducted their investigation. Authorities are expected to release more information as the situation develops and urge the public to avoid the area until further notice.