A gunman who opened fire just outside the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on Friday fatally shot a police officer before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said.

No one else was reported injured in the shooting, which occurred near the Emory University campus.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Saturday identified the gunman as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White, of Kennesaw, Georgia. The agency's director, Chris Hosey, said Tuesday that documents found in a search of the gunman's home "expressed the shooter's discontent with the COVID-19 vaccinations" and he had written about wanting to make "the public aware of his discontent with the vaccine." 

The shooter also had recently verbalized thoughts of suicide, which led to law enforcement being contacted several weeks before the shooting, Hosey said.

Map shows area of shooting

The shooting began just before 5 p.m. Friday directly across the main entrance to the CDC campus.

The attack, which unfolded near neighboring Emory University, prompted a massive law enforcement response to one of the nation's most prominent public health institutions. Close to 200 rounds impacted six CDC buildings, Hosey said Tuesday. Over 500 shell casings were recovered from the area.

"Active shooter on Emory Atlanta Campus at Emory Point CVS. RUN, HIDE, FIGHT. Avoid the area. Continue shelter in place. Police on scene," said a statement from the university.

The shelter in place was lifted a little after 6:30 p.m.

When the shooting began, staff at a nearby restaurant hunkered down and said they heard a string of gunshots. "It sounded like fireworks going off, one right after the other," said Brandy Giraldo, the chief operating officer of The General Muir restaurant.

She then saw people running past her business. Two people paused to warn them of a shooter nearby.

The gunman was found on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDC campus, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said.

Authorities recovered five firearms from the scene, including rifles, a shotgun and maybe a handgun, Hosey said Tuesday. The shooter broke into a secured safe to get the weapons, which belonged to his father. The family has been cooperating with the investigation.

Police officer killed

Officer David Rose was killed in the gunfire, the DeKalb County Police Department said in a Facebook post.

Rose, 33, was a Marine veteran who served in Afghanistan and graduated from the police academy in March and "quickly earned the respect of his colleagues for his dedication, courage and professionalism," DeKalb County said in a statement.

"This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father," DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said.

Interim Chief Greg Padrick of the DeKalb County Police Department said Rose was "committed to serving the community."

FBI Director Kash Patel called Rose a hero who "made the ultimate sacrifice."

"Pray for the family, friends, and colleagues of this hero who acted quickly to defend others and made the ultimate sacrifice," Patel said in a post on X.

No CDC employees or visitors were harmed, Director Susan Monarez said.

"As we navigate the aftermath of this event, we want to express our eternal gratitude to law enforcement personnel who were injured and share our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the Dekalb County Police Officer who was killed in the line of duty," she wrote in an email sent to employees.

The presidents of Emory University on Saturday thanked law enforcement officials for their swift response that "enabled a well-coordinated, multi-agency team to confront a threat and keep our community safe."

"In putting themselves in harm's way to keep each of us safe, they put our community first with incredible bravery and selflessness," Leah Ward Sears, Interim President-Elect and Gregory L. Fenves, President and Chancellor-Elect, said in an email sent to Emory students and staff.

Gov. Brian Kemp praised the efforts of first responders.

"Twice this week, deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians," Kemp said, referring to the shooting at Fort Stewart as well as the CDC campus. "Each time, brave first responders rushed toward the danger to subdue the shooter and save lives, reminding us of just how crucial they are."

Investigation ongoing

Law enforcement officials are still piecing together what led to the shooting and expect the investigation will go on for an extended period of time, the GBI said Saturday.

Investigators are exploring the possibility that the suspect believed he was sick as a result of the COVID-19 vaccine, multiple law enforcement sources told CBS News on Saturday.

White's neighbors told CBS News that he was outspoken against vaccines.