‘All clear’ at Emory after university warns of campus emergency
The Emory University campus was given the “all clear” Friday shortly before 3 p.m., about two hours after an emergency alert was issued.
Details about what prompted the alert were not immediately released. But the emergency post sent panic through the community, just five months after a separate incident in the area left a police officer dead.
Friday’s alert was posted on the university’s website shortly after 1 p.m.
“There is a police emergency on the Emory Atlanta Campus at Emory Point near CDC,” the alert said. “Avoid the area. Updates to follow.”
Moments later, the alert updated to state: “Police are on the scene. Continue to avoid the area. Updates to follow.”
The following message posted on the university website just before 3 p.m.: “The emergency for the Emory University Atlanta Campus has been lifted. ALL CLEAR. Please contact emergency personnel as needed.”
A heavy police presence was seen in the area about 2 p.m., but later dispersed.
Jason McDonald, a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution a suspicious person was spotted in the Emory Point area, prompting the alert. The CDC campus increased security at the gates and advised people to avoid the area.
By 2:30 p.m., officers from both the university and Atlanta police departments were seen leaving the area.
Spring classes began Monday at Emory, according to the university calendar.
The alert comes just five months after the CDC was the scene of a shooting that killed a DeKalb County police officer. On Aug. 8, officer David Rose was killed by a shooter, who then turned the gun on himself.
— Staff writers Caroline Silva, Jason Armesto and Ariel Hart contributed to this report. Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
