A 30-year-old Georgia man who opened fire near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta on Friday has been identified as Patrick Joseph White, with authorities revealing he blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal.
The shooting, which occurred near the CDC campus and Emory University, left DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose dead and prompted hours-long lockdowns across the area. White was found dead at the scene, though authorities have not confirmed whether he was killed by police or took his own life.
According to law enforcement sources, White's father contacted police before the shooting and identified his son as a potential threat. The father revealed that White had become increasingly upset over two key issues: the death of his dog and his fixation on the COVID-19 vaccine, which he believed had caused his mental health struggles.
White, who lived with his family in Kennesaw, Georgia about 25 miles northwest of the CDC had attempted to enter the agency's headquarters but was turned away by security guards. He then drove to a CVS pharmacy across the street and began firing at the CDC complex with multiple weapons, including at least one long gun and four other firearms recovered from the scene.
The attack left dozens of bullet holes across at least four CDC buildings, where thousands of employees conduct critical disease research. Workers huddled under lockdown for hours as investigators secured the area, with many encouraged to work from home Monday or take leave.
Officer David Rose, 33, was a former Marine who had served in Afghanistan and graduated from the police academy just five months ago in March. He leaves behind a pregnant wife and two children, with a third on the way.
"This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father," said DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson.
The shooting has sparked controversy over the role of vaccine misinformation in fueling violence against public health workers. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has a history of vaccine skepticism, expressed support for CDC employees but faced criticism from laid-off agency workers.
A group called "Fired But Fighting," representing nearly 2,000 CDC employees recently terminated under the Trump administration, called for Kennedy's resignation, stating he bears responsibility for "the villainization of CDC's workforce through his continuous lies about science and vaccine safety."
Nancy Hoalst, a neighbor of White's family, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that White frequently brought up his distrust of COVID-19 vaccines in conversations, describing him as "very unsettled" and someone who "emphatically believed" vaccines were harmful.
The incident highlights growing concerns about threats to public health workers and federal employees amid political tensions over pandemic policies. CDC security has now advised employees to remove old parking decals from their vehicles as a precautionary measure.
As investigations continue, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of how misinformation and personal grievances can escalate into deadly violence against those working to protect public health.
