ATLANTA, GA – A police officer was killed Saturday afternoon during a shootout near the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta. The suspected gunman was later found dead on the second floor of a nearby building.
According to local authorities, the incident occurred at approximately 4:50 p.m. local time, when police received reports of an armed individual in the Clifton Road area, home to Emory University and the CDC campus. The area was immediately placed on full lockdown, and an “active shooter” protocol was activated.
The fallen officer was identified as 33-year-old David Rose of the DeKalb County Police Department. Rose, who joined the force in September 2024 and had recently completed his training, was fatally shot while responding to the incident. He later died at Emory University Hospital.
“This is a dark day for our county,” said Acting Police Chief Greg Padrick, offering condolences to Rose’s family, which includes his wife, two young children, and another child on the way.
The suspect’s body was discovered inside a building housing a CVS pharmacy. Investigators have yet to determine whether he died by suicide or was shot during the exchange of gunfire with police.
Authorities confirmed that four CDC campus buildings were struck by bullets during the incident. No additional injuries were reported. Among those in the vicinity were 92 children in a daycare facility, all of whom were confirmed safe.
The investigation remains ongoing.
