Gunman under suspicion and police officer killed following active shooter warning at Emory University's campus in Atlanta.
Breaking News: Shooting at Emory University Campus Linked to COVID-19 Vaccine Grievances
An active shooter situation unfolded at Emory University campus in Atlanta on Friday, with the shooting taking place near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters. The incident, which left an officer dead and several agencies responding, appears to be linked to the suspect's grievances about the COVID-19 vaccine.
The shooting was first reported at 4:50 p.m. local time at 1600 Clifton Road NE. Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum confirmed that several rounds were fired into the CDC building, and a DeKalb County police officer was shot while responding to the active shooter situation. The officer, identified as 33-year-old David Rose, was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital but did not survive.
Law enforcement believes there was just one shooter, identified as Patrick Joseph White, a 30-year-old man who had been with the department for 11 months. According to sources, the suspect believed the vaccine was harming him and felt the government and media were not acknowledging the truth. He had become fixated on the vaccine as a source of his grievances.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation, but the full extent and details of the suspect's motive remain under investigation. However, authorities and people who knew the suspect have reported his COVID-19 vaccine grievance as a possible motive for the shooting. The investigation is ongoing, but it is not immediately known if the suspect was killed by officer gunfire or if it was self-inflicted.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens expressed gratitude for the swift response of all law enforcement agencies. The agency said it is not aware of any casualties on the Emory campus. Atlanta police lifted the shelter-in-place around 6:30 p.m. ET.
Investigations are also underway to determine whether the CDC building near the university's campus was the shooter's target. The FBI responded to the scene, and several agencies, including the Atlanta Police Department and DeKalb County Police Department, were involved in the response. Officers at the scene also heard gunshots inside the nearby CVS.
This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing debate surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine and its impact on individuals. As the investigation continues, we will provide updates on the situation as they become available. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the fallen officer and all those affected by this incident.
The shooting at Emory University campus, linked to COVID-19 vaccine grievances, underscores the divisive politics surrounding war-and-conflicts and general-news topics such as the vaccine. The suspect's beliefs about the vaccine, which led to his fixation and the tragic violence, also demonstrate the far-reaching effects of crime-and-justice issues.
