ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
Updated:

An active shooter situation on Emory University's Atlanta campus closed on Friday night after police confirmed the death of the shooter.

The suspected shooter's family believes he was targeting the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after developing a theory that he had become sick after taking the COVID-19 vaccine, a law enforcement official told CNN, citing the suspect's family.

The alleged shooter’s father called law enforcement before the shooting to report that he believed his son was suicidal, the official told CNN.

A CDC employee told the American site that they had witnessed a man firing a rifle at the CDC building.

The CDC remains in lockdown, though the campus shelter-in-place order was lifted.

“The CDC campus did receive multiple rounds into their buildings,” Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said.

“There is no ongoing threat to the Emory Campus or the surrounding neighborhood. The incident involved a single shooter, who is now deceased,” the post said. “One law enforcement official was injured in the course of the response.”

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said the alleged shooter in today’s incident “is a known person that may have some interest in certain things that I can’t reiterate right now with any confidence until the investigation is fully conducted.”

“I think that in a short order you’ll know more about this individual and about some assumptions of his motives, but can’t say right now,” Dickens said at a news conference.
 

Sources told ABC News that local police encountered what they suspected was an armed suspect and attempted to engage the person.

An officer who was initially wounded was later confirmed killed. He left behind a pregnant wife and two children.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the loss of the life of one of our very own DeKalb County police officers,” Interim Chief of the DeKalb County Police Department Greg Padrick said. “This officer responded to the call as he was trained to do, and during that incident, he received gunfire and he lost his life in this incident.”

Brandy Giraldo, General Muir’s chief operating officer, said staffers inside a local campus heard a string of gunshots, according to The Washington Post.

“It sounded like fireworks going off, one right after the other,” she said.

'RUN. HIDE. FIGHT'

"RUN. HIDE. FIGHT. Avoid the area," the university said.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp wrote, “Twice this week, deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians. Each time, brave first responders rushed toward the danger to subdue the shooter and save lives, reminding us of just how crucial they are.”

Rep. Mike Collins said, "Students at Emory, please take cover. Praying for a swift end to this threat."