“Emory Emergency: Active shooter on Emory Atlanta Campus at Emory Point CVS. RUN, HIDE, FIGHT. Avoid the area. Shelter in place,” said an X post from Emory University at 5:33 p.m. ET Friday.
Emory university is located in Atlanta, Ga.
An “ALL CLEAR” was declared shortly before 8 a.m. ET Saturday. The school also revealed that the shooter and a law enforcement officer died during the incident. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified Patrick Joseph White, 30, of Kennesaw, Ga., as the shooting suspect and the deceased officer as David Rose of the DeKalb County Police Department.
At around 10:16 p.m. Friday, the university shared a message to the community that said the Emory Police Department and other law enforcement agencies were working to verify facts about the incident. It added that the shooting occurred at Emory Point, an apartment and retail complex adjacent to the school’s Atlanta campus.
In a Saturday morning statement, Emory Interim President-Elect Leah Ward Sears and President/Chancellor-Elect Gregory L. Fenves said that multiple law enforcement agencies were notified of a “shots fired” call at Emory Point at around 4:50 p.m. ET Friday and an “active shooter” shelter-in-place alert was called.
Emory Police Department officers and other law enforcement responders “encountered and engaged a lone active shooter on Clifton Road across from the main entrance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said the statement. It also said that, as of Saturday morning, there were no reports that Emory Police Department officers or other members of the Emory community were physically injured.
“Tragically, in addition to the shooter, DeKalb County Police officer David Rose lost his life in the line of duty. Officer Rose responded heroically, and our hearts mourn with the officer’s family and his fellow officers. His sacrifice for our community will not be forgotten,” the statement added.
Sears and Fenves said that the university has been working to increase campus safety measures in recent years. They said investments into public safety helped prepare for events such as the Friday active shooter incident. Furthermore, they plan to “review yesterday’s events,” and “incorporate what we learn into our planning, procedures, and training to keep each of you safe.”
The GBI said Saturday that it is investigating the officer-involved shooting at the request of the Emory University Police Department.
“There is extensive evidence to collect due to the complex scene. Numerous interviews are being conducted. This investigation will take an extended period of time,” said the agency.
Emory police also announced Saturday that the school’s campus would have increased police presence throughout the weekend. Officers from both the Emory Police Department and the Georgia Tech Police Department were set to patrol as an added safety measure.
According to Everytown USA, a gun safety organization, there have been at least 74 incidents of gunfire on school grounds, resulting in 25 deaths and 53 injuries nationally this year. This April, there was a mass shooting that killed two and wounded five at Florida State University.