CDC Shooting Suspect Parroted Allegations of Health Damage from Vaccines

Safety at Work

Atlanta, GA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A gunman fired more than 180 shots into the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, killing a police officer who was responding to the shooting.

The gunman later died of what appeared to be a self-inflicted wound after the incident on Friday, August 8.

Officials said Patrick Joseph White, 30, shot out some 150 windows in the building sending shards of glass 30 to 60 feet into the building. Police said White had mentioned suicide prior to the incident.

"Evidence in this investigation indicates that the shooter had recently verbalized thoughts of suicide, which even led to law enforcement being contact several weeks prior to the incident," Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey said at a news conference Tuesday.

Investigators said they had located documents written by White which “expressed his discontent with the COVID-19 vaccination.”

Several of White’s neighbors told CBS News White spoke out against vaccines, and investigators were looking into suggestions that White believed the COVID-19 vaccines had made him sick. White’s father said he had been fixated on the vaccine, and that he was upset over the death of his dog.

The shooting happened outside of Emory University and the CDC Building around 4:50 p.m. According to DeKalb County officials, Officer David Rose was first to respond to the shooting and he encountered White near the CDC’s Roybal Campus. White immediately fired on Rose, fatally wounding him. Another officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.

White fired at the CDC building then entered a nearby CVS store. Once police arrived, White fled to a second floor where he engaged the police in a gunfight.

The DeKalb County Police Department said Rose, 33, joined the force in September of last year. He had recently graduated from the police academy and was assigned to the North Central precinct.

“This officer responded to the call as he was trained to do,” Interim Chief Greg Padrick said. “He was committed to serving the community.”

Officials said White had tried to get into the CDC’s headquarters, but was turned away by guards before driving to the pharmacy across the street.

Emory University Hospital and the campus buildings were placed on lockdown because of the shooting, as was the CDC Atlanta campus. Children at the on-site daycare were evacuated and reunited with their families.

Atlanta’s Mayor, Andre Dickens, said several CDC windows were damaged by no civilians were injured in the shooting. On Saturday, a CDC said that workers have been instructed to work from home until a security assessment has been completed.

CDC officials called for gratitude to first responders.

"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," CDC Director Susan Monarez said.

Georgia 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."

But employees in the CDC criticized the government’s response to the shooting, saying they were “deeply disappointed and frustrated” by the lack of leadership following the shooting.

Employees speaking on the condition of anonymity to CBS News said the shooting wasn’t a surprise.

"I wouldn't say we saw it coming. I would say more that it wasn't a surprise,” one employee said. "The CDC's been vulnerable for a really long time. It's shocking but not surprising."

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. visited the site on Monday, officials said and met with Rose’s widow.

In a statement on Monday, the HHS referred to Kennedy's remarks shared in his X post on Saturday: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDC's Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose. We stand with his wife and three children and the entire CDC family,” Kennedy said on a post on X.

Following the visit, the CDC Union AFGE Local 2882 said the union was disappointed by Kennedy’s lack of concern for CDC employees. The union represents about 2,300 CDC personnel members.

"He spent less time on the ground than the attacker did," the union said in a statement. The union is calling for improved communication and stepped-up security, including 24/7 perimeter guards, bulletproof glass, weapons detection measures and evacuation planning.

One CDC employee told CBS News they expected more from the HHS Secretary, including condemning the rhetoric that they believe led to the shooting.

"I think the challenge is that it would be hard for anyone to trust that he's sincere," the employee told CBS about the secretary who has made anti-vaccine statements in the past, including anti-COVID 19 vaccine statements. "He has been trashing ... the whole administration has been trashing the CDC and the work that we do."

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