CDC Shooter Patrick Joseph White Had Five Firearms, Killed Officer in Atlanta Attack

Patrick Joseph White, 30, armed with five firearms, fatally shot Officer David Rose near the CDC headquarters in Atlanta after being stopped from entering the campus. Described as “unsettled” and fixated on anti-vaccine beliefs, White also died during the incident. Authorities are investigating his motives and weapon sources.

Patrick Joseph White, 30, was armed with five firearms, including at least one long gun, when he carried out a deadly shooting near the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta on August 8, authorities said.

White attempted to enter the CDC campus but was stopped by security guards. He then drove to a nearby pharmacy, where he opened fire, fatally shooting DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose. No civilians were injured. White also died during the incident, though officials have yet to confirm whether he was killed by police gunfire or died by suicide.

Investigators were told by White’s father that his son had been emotionally distraught after the death of his dog and had developed an intense fixation on the COVID-19 vaccine. The family lives in Kennesaw, about 40 kilometers northwest of the CDC.

Neighbor Nancy Hoalst described White as “unsettled” and consumed by anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, saying he believed vaccines had harmed him and others. She expressed shock that his convictions could lead to violence, calling them a deeply held “tenet” of his identity.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued a statement mourning Officer Rose, saying, “No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others.”

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The attack has rattled the CDC community and prompted renewed attention to security concerns at federal health facilities. Authorities continue to investigate White’s motives and the source of his weapons.