August 8, 2025 — A nightmare unfolded Friday afternoon at the Emory Point CVS, situated on the Emory University campus near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of a DeKalb County police officer and the suspected shooter.
At approximately 4:50 p.m., Emory University issued a critical alert raising alarm about an active shooter in the CVS pharmacy area, advising students and staff to “RUN, HIDE, FIGHT” and steer clear of the vicinity.
Responding officers encountered gunfire as they arrived at the scene. A DeKalb County police officer was found critically injured and quickly transported to a nearby hospital, but later succumbed to his wounds.
Police located the shooter on the second floor of the CVS building. He was found with a gunshot wound and pronounced dead at the scene. It remains undetermined whether his death was by self-inflicted injury or as a result of police action.
Multiple rounds of gunfire were also reported at nearby CDC buildings, with several windows shattered. Remarkably, 92 children housed in a daycare center on the CDC campus emerged unharmed.(turn0news24,turn0news25)
Coordinated Response and Ongoing Investigation
The emergency prompted a large-scale response from law enforcement agencies. Atlanta Police, DeKalb County authorities, FBI Atlanta, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and other state and federal teams were dispatched to the scene. Nearby facilities and campuses, including Emory University, CDC, and Emory University Hospital, were placed under immediate lockdown.
By 6:30 p.m., authorities confirmed that the immediate threat had been eliminated. However, a police emergency remained active, with officials urging the public to continue avoiding the area.(turn0news26,turn0news30)
Leaders Call for Unity and Support
Local and state officials were quick to respond. DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson mourned the fallen officer, noting he leaves behind a pregnant wife and two children.(turn0news26)
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp praised first responders for their bravery, acknowledging this as too frequent an occurrence.(turn0news26)
FBI Atlanta also confirmed its participation in the ongoing investigation.(turn0news26,turn0news28)
This terrifying act of violence—centered at Emory University—has deeply shaken the community. While the threat has passed, officials continue to process the crime scene and seek closure for the families of both the officer and the suspect.
As students prepare to return for the fall semester, the Emory and Atlanta communities remain united in grief—and determined to heal.