CDC Gunman Spoke About Distrust Of COVID-19 Vaccines Before Shooting

ATLANTA, GA — The man who killed a DeKalb County police officer when he opened fire outside the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday spoke about his distrust of the COVID-19 vaccine before the shooting, according to a report.

Police say Patrick Joseph White, 30, of Kennesaw, fired shots at the CDC campus from across the street around 5 p.m., leaving gaping bullet holes in windows and littering the sidewalk outside a CVS pharmacy with bullet casings. The attack prompted a massive law enforcement response to one of the nation’s most prominent public health institutions.

Officer David Rose was shot while responding to the shooting at Clifton Road and CDC Parkway. He was rushed to Emory University Hospital, where he later died of his injuries, the DeKalb County Police Department confirmed.

No civilians were injured, but at least four CDC buildings were hit, Director Susan Monarez said in a post on X.

A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that White had been turned away by guards when he tried to gain access to the CDC campus. he then drove to a spot near the pharmacy and started firing.

He was armed with a long gun, and authorities recovered at least three other firearms at the scene, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation.

The suspect’s father reached out to authorities and identified his son as the possible shooter, the law enforcement official said. The father told authorities that his son had been upset over the death of his dog and seemed depressed because of the COVID-19 vaccine.

A neighbor of White told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he spoke with her multiple times about his distrust of COVID-19 vaccines.

Nancy Hoalst, who lives in the same cul-de-sac as White’s family, said he seemed like a good guy, while doing yard work and walking dogs for neighbors, but would bring up vaccines even in unrelated conversations.

“He was very unsettled, and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people,” Hoalst told the Atlanta newspaper. “He emphatically believed that.”

But Hoalst said she never believed White would be violent: “I had no idea he thought he would take it out on the CDC.”

White was found on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDC and died at the scene, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said.

“We do not know at this time whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted,” Schierbaum said. A white car with an open trunk was part of the crime scene and is being searched, he added, but it remains unclear if it belonged to White.

Staff at a deli near campus locked the doors and hunkered down inside. Brandy Giraldo, chief operating officer of The General Muir restaurant, said staffers inside heard a string of gunshots.

“It sounded like fireworks going off, one right after the other,” she said.

According to DeKalb County police, Rose started with the agency in September 2024 and served the North Central precinct. He leaves behind a wife and two children, with a third child on the way.

“He was committed to serving the community,” Interim Police Chief Greg Padrick said in a statement. “At this time, we’re asking for the community’s prayers for his family, his friends, his loved ones and the entire DeKalb County Police Department family.”

In a statement released following the shooting, Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry called Friday "a devastating and dark night."

"We, as a community, are heartbroken, and I share my deepest condolences to the family, the DeKalb County Police Department, fellow first responders and the citizens of DeKalb County," Terry said. "Today, this hit home for many. We hear tragic stories every day, and we always try to process why."

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston said her team has been in close contact with law enforcement partners following the shooting.

"We were devastated to learn about the tragic passing of an officer with the DeKalb County Police Department who bravely answered the call when our community needed him most," Boston said. "My heart goes out to the officer’s family, friends, and the DeKalb County community as we all mourn this tremendous loss.”

CDC Director Monarez expressed gratitude to the law enforcement personnel who responded following the shooting.

Monarez said Monday would be a remote workday so the agency could conduct a security assessment before people return to their offices. In her X post, she called the shooting an “attack on our Roybal Campus,” referring to the office complex.

Gov. Brian Kemp also 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.”

The Associated Press contributed reporting.