All Clear Issued After Brief 'Police Emergency' Alert at Emory University Near CDC Headquarters

Atlanta, GA – January 16, 2026 – Emory University officials have lifted a "police emergency" alert that briefly disrupted the Atlanta campus Friday afternoon, with authorities confirming the situation was resolved as a false alarm and no threats to public safety.

The incident began around 1:05 p.m. when the university's emergency notification system sent out an alert via its safety app and text messages, warning community members of a police emergency at Emory Point — a mixed-use development featuring apartments, retail, and dining — located near the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Clifton Road.

The alert instructed individuals to avoid the area as officers responded to the scene. Reports from local media described a visible police presence, including patrol cars and officers armed with long guns, along with helicopters circling overhead. Social media posts from students and witnesses initially speculated about possible gunfire or suspicious activity, heightening tensions on campus.

Adding to the concern, the location is the same area where a tragic active shooter incident occurred on August 8, 2025. In that attack, a gunman fired hundreds of rounds at CDC buildings and nearby structures, killing DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose before dying by suicide. Friday's alert inevitably evoked memories of that deadly event for many in the Emory and CDC communities.

However, updates came quickly to clarify the situation. Local news outlets, including FOX 5 Atlanta, reported shortly after the initial response that police had confirmed no active shooter was present. Sources from the Atlanta Police Department, CDC, and Emory indicated the alert stemmed from a misunderstanding involving individuals — possibly repair or maintenance workers — observed on a rooftop at Emory Point, initially deemed suspicious.Drones were deployed to verify the situation, and officers investigated before determining there was no credible threat. By approximately 2:46 p.m., Emory University issued the all-clear, lifting restrictions and allowing normal activity to resume in the area.

No injuries were reported, and neither the university nor law enforcement provided further details on what specifically triggered the initial response. CDC facilities briefly went into a precautionary lockdown during the investigation but were also cleared shortly after.The episode highlights the heightened vigilance at the Emory campus and surrounding federal facilities following last year's shooting. University officials have continued to emphasize campus safety enhancements, including increased staffing, additional cameras, and tools like the Emory Safe app for rapid alerts and communication.

As of late Friday afternoon, the area around Emory Point had returned to routine operations, with lingering police vehicles departing the scene. Emory University has not released an official statement beyond the all-clear notification, but community members are encouraged to stay enrolled in emergency alerts for future updates.

17GEN4.com