A police officer has died from injuries sustained while responding to a shooting outside the headquarters of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.
The incident, which took place on Friday near Emory University, involved a “single shooter” who is now dead, the Atlanta police department said.
It said the officer, David Rose, had been taken to hospital and later died from his injuries. No civilian was wounded in the incident.
The motive is unclear, but US media, citing an unnamed law-enforcement official, reported a theory that the gunman believed he was sick as a result of a coronavirus vaccine.
Media reports also suggested the man’s father had called police on the day of the shooting believing his son was suicidal.
CDC Director Susan Monarez said the centre was “heartbroken” by the attack.
“DeKalb County police, CDC security, and Emory University responded immediately and decisively, helping to prevent further harm to our staff and community,” she wrote in a post on X.
In a press briefing on Friday, police said they became aware of a report of an active shooter at around 16:50 local time (21:50 BST) near the CDC campus.
Officers from multiple agencies responded. Emory University posted at the time on social media: “Active shooter on Emory Atlanta Campus at Emory Point CVS. RUN, HIDE, FIGHT.”
The CDC campus received multiple rounds of gunfire into buildings.
Police said they found the shooter “struck by gunfire” – but could not specify whether that was from law enforcement or self-inflicted.
Media outlets have reported that CDC employees have been asked to work remotely on Monday.
