On a tragic Friday afternoon, a police officer lost his life while dealing with a shooting incident near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. Reports confirmed that Officer David Rose from the DeKalb County Police Department was critically injured and later succumbed to his wounds at a hospital.
The shooter, identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White from Kennesaw, Georgia, was found dead at the scene. Authorities are investigating the motive behind this shocking event.
According to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum, officers were dispatched to a CVS pharmacy around 4:50 PM Eastern Time after getting alerts about an active shooter near the CDC’s campus. Upon arrival, they discovered Officer Rose who required immediate medical attention.
CDC Director Susan Monarez stated that gunfire was aimed at several buildings within the agency’s premises. In response to this dangerous situation, Monarez mentioned, “We are actively coordinating with federal, state, and local partners to thoroughly investigate the shooter and the circumstances of this tragic crime,” highlighting the seriousness of the incident in a post on X.
The shooting also impacted nearby Emory University, which went into a lockdown for about an hour. Although the lockdown has since been lifted, the university advised residents to avoid the area out of caution.
Officers located the shooter on the second floor near CVS, where he had sustained injuries from gunfire. It remains unclear whether he was wounded by police fire or inflicted harm upon himself. Authorities confirmed his death at the scene.
In a positive note, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens provided reassurance regarding the safety of nearby locations, stating that 92 children at a daycare on the CDC campus were unharmed. The police reported there is no continued threat to the campus or its surrounding neighborhood.
For further updates, you can reach out to Victoria Albert at victoria.albert@wsj.com
