(NewsNation) — A police officer wounded while responding to an active shooter at Emory University outside Atlanta has died.
“Pray for the family, friends, and colleagues of this hero who acted quickly to defend others and made the ultimate sacrifice,” FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X.
Police are investigating the shooter’s motive after he was found dead on the second floor above a CVS on the college campus on Friday.
The gunman, identified only as a white male, opened fire at 4:50 p.m. A DeKalb County officer was injured responding to the shooting and later died of his injuries.
Police say the gunman shot up at least four CDC buildings. It was initially unclear if the shooter was targeting the school or the CDC, which neighbors the college campus.
Four other people showed up at the hospital suffering stress-related symptoms after the shooting, police said.
Active shooter alert issued
Gunfire can be heard in videos posted on X as cops swarmed the college six miles northeast of Atlanta, Georgia.
“Active shooter on Emory Atlanta campus at Emory Point CVS. RUN. HIDE. FIGHT. Avoid the area. Shelter in place,” Emory University wrote in an emergency alert.
Atlanta police said the shooter was dead and that there was no longer a threat to the campus in an update at 6:45 p.m.
Video from WAGA showed bullet holes covering a police SUV, and the outlet reported that several cop cars were shot up, with some leaking fluids.
Police investigate car, motive
Police were seen investigating a white car near the CVS where the gunman was fatally wounded, and a CBS reporter shared images of bullet holes in windows at the CDC.
Asked if the gunman targeted the CDC, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said it was too early to tell as the investigation is underway.
“He is a known person that may have some interests in certain things that I can’t reiterate right now with any confidence until the investigation is fully conducted,” Dickens said.
“But I think in short order you’ll know more about this individual and some assumptions about his motives, but I can’t say right now,” he said.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said investigators are trying to determine if the suspect meant to hit the CDC building as he opened fire.
“Multiple rounds were fired, both we believe at law enforcement and potentially at the CDC,” Schierbaum said.