Police in the United States have responded to an active shooting incident on the campus of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, that injured one officer and resulted in the suspect’s death. In an alert sent on Friday, students were told to “RUN, HIDE, FIGHT” and avoid the area close to the nearby Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
At 6:43pm local time (22:43 GMT), the Atlanta Police Department confirmed that the shooter had been killed, though it continued to advise staying away from the crime scene. “There is no ongoing threat to the Emory campus or the surrounding neighborhood,” the police department said in a statement.
“The incident involved a single shooter who is now deceased. One law enforcement officer was injured in the course of the response.” It was not immediately clear whether anyone else was hurt in the shooting. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said authorities were “praying for the safety of the entire campus community”.
“We’re horrified by the news out of Emory University and praying for the safety of the entire campus community,” he said. In a post on the social media platform X, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp decried the shooting, noting it was the second high-profile shooting in the state this week.
On Wednesday, an army sergeant opened fire at Fort Stewart, an army base in eastern Georgia, injuring five fellow soldiers. No one was killed in the attack, and a suspect, 28-year-old Quornelius Radford, was taken into custody.
“Twice this week, deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians,” Kemp wrote on X. “We ask that you join us in holding them in our prayers, along with those harmed this evening near the CDC Center,” he said. Senator Raphael Warnock, who represents the state of Georgia in the US Congress, also offered his condolences.
“I’m praying for the officer who was injured, and all students and faculty. I am devastated that our community is facing yet another tragedy of gun violence,” he wrote on social media. The incident has left the community in shock, with many calling for increased measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to determine the motive behind the shooting and the circumstances surrounding the incident. The university has been placed on lockdown, and students have been advised to remain indoors until further notice.