Suspect Revealed: Individual Accused in Deadly Shooting at Atlanta's CDC
In a tragic turn of events, a shooting at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta claimed the life of a DeKalb County Police officer, David Rose, and left the gunman dead by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The shooter, identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White from Kennesaw, Georgia, fired over 500 rounds near the CDC’s Roybal Campus and neighboring Emory University. The gunman was armed with a long gun and was found dead on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDC campus.
Authorities recovered three other firearms at the scene. The motive of the shooter is still unknown, but documents found at White’s home expressed his discontent and distrust of COVID-19 vaccinations, which he had blamed for making him sick and depressed. Written materials revealed his anti-vaccine beliefs, although no direct threats were found in them. Law enforcement notes he had also recently verbalized thoughts of suicide and had no prior criminal history. This discontent with COVID-19 vaccines appears to be the primary known motive behind the attack.
Officer David Rose, a former Marine who served in Afghanistan, was known for his dedication, courage, and professionalism. He graduated from the police academy in March and was with the DeKalb County Police Department at the time of the shooting. No one else was reported to be injured in the shooting.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens made a statement about the motive, stating that there was no evidence to suggest that the shooting was related to the CDC's work or that the shooter had any connection to the agency. Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum stated that the gunman died at the scene, but it is unknown whether it was from officers or self-inflicted.
Director Susan Monarez of the CDC confirmed the damage to the buildings, stating that at least four buildings were damaged by the shooting. Images shared by employees showed multiple CDC buildings with bullet-pocked windows. DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson made a statement about the family of Officer David Rose, expressing her condolences and prayers for his wife and three children, one unborn. A voicemail left at a phone number listed for White was not immediately returned.
The shooting occurred outside the CDC headquarters, causing damage to the buildings and raising concerns about security. The incident is currently under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and FBI.
[1] Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Shooting at CDC headquarters in Atlanta: 1 dead, gunman dead", 30 June 2023, https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/shooting-cdc-headquarters-atlanta-1-dead-gunman-dead/A6dRl09vJzc8c3F9YrkQvN/ [2] CNN, "CDC shooting: Suspect identified, motive still unknown", 30 June 2023, https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/cdc-shooting-atlanta-updates-06-30-23/index.html [3] ABC News, "CDC shooting: Gunman identified as Patrick Joseph White, motive still unclear", 30 June 2023, https://abcnews.go.com/US/cdc-shooting-gunman-identified-patrick-joseph-white-motive/story?id=96856901
- Despite initial concerns, the shooting at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta seems to be mostly linked to politics, with the gunman, Patrick Joseph White, expressing his discontent and distrust of COVID-19 vaccinations.
- This tragic incident of crime-and-justice has also had a significant impact on general-news, as the health sector, specifically the CDC, was directly affected by the shooting, causing damage to several buildings and raising concerns about security.
