Published Time: 08-13-2025, 15:45

Authorities have released new details about the man accused of carrying out a deadly shooting at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta last week. The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White, reportedly had prior police contacts over suicidal thoughts and used firearms taken from his father’s locked safe during the attack.

Incident Overview

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the shooting occurred on Friday, shortly before 5 p.m., and resulted in the death of DeKalb County Police Department Officer David Rose, 33. White allegedly fired approximately 200 rounds at six CDC buildings before taking his own life.

Officer Rose, a former U.S. Marine who served in Afghanistan, had joined the DeKalb County Police Department in September 2024. He was fatally wounded while responding to the incident.

Investigators recovered five firearms from the scene, primarily long guns, and collected more than 500 shell casings.

Prior Police Contacts and Mental Health Concerns

GBI Director Chris Hosey confirmed that White had no prior criminal history but had recently expressed suicidal thoughts. Law enforcement officers had been contacted about his mental health several times in the past year.

“Evidence in this investigation indicates that the shooter had recently verbalized thoughts of suicide, which even led to law enforcement being contacted several weeks prior to the incident,” Hosey said at a Tuesday press briefing.

Local reports from Fox Atlanta indicate that police responded to at least three separate calls about White’s mental state in the past year. In a September 2024 incident, White told officers that his health had declined after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, contributing to his suicidal thoughts. He reportedly took a gun from his father’s locker during that episode, which he later described as “a cry for help.”

Following that event, White was transported to Kennestone Hospital but declined further mental health treatment in later encounters. Additional police contacts occurred in April and July 2025.

Access to Firearms

Officials stated that the firearms used in the attack were stored securely in a locked safe at White’s father’s home. Hosey said the suspect forcibly accessed the safe before the shooting.

“All indications in our investigation were that the weapons were secure and that he forced his way into the safe,” Hosey explained.

The recovered firearms included several long guns used to fire into CDC buildings.

Suspect’s Writings and Motivation

During a search of White’s residence, authorities found written material expressing his discontent with COVID-19 vaccinations. Hosey described the writings as personal documents aimed at raising “public awareness” of his views, without making direct threats.

“I would describe it as more of a public awareness. There was no direct threat… but it was his making the public aware, in his words, of his discontent with the vaccines,” Hosey said.

The materials are being reviewed by behavioral analysts and shared with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Sequence of Events

Authorities reported that before the shooting began, CDC security personnel stopped White near the facility. He then drove to a pharmacy across the street, where he opened fire from the sidewalk. The rounds struck blast-resistant windows on the CDC campus, forcing employees to shelter in place.

More than 500 shell casings were later recovered from the crime scene, according to the GBI.

Security Response and Federal Visit

In the aftermath of the attack, CDC officials are reviewing security measures and working closely with law enforcement to address potential threats.

On Monday, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited the CDC campus with Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill and CDC Director Susan Monarez. The group also visited the DeKalb County Police Department and met privately with Officer Rose’s widow.

Kennedy recently announced changes to federal vaccination guidelines, stating that the CDC will no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children or pregnant individuals. He also said the government had canceled 22 mRNA vaccine development contracts, totaling about $500 million, citing data indicating limited protection against upper respiratory infections.

Community Impact

The shooting has drawn national attention to issues of mental health, firearm access, and security at federal facilities. Authorities emphasized that early intervention and secure firearm storage remain critical in preventing similar tragedies.

The investigation remains active, with the GBI, FBI, and local law enforcement continuing to examine the suspect’s actions, motivations, and prior contacts with police.

Source: FOX News – CDC shooter had police contacts over suicide, used father’s guns in attack: officials

The post CDC Campus Shooting Suspect Had Prior Police Contacts Over Mental Health Concerns, Officials Say appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Published: 08-10-2025, 14:30

A deadly shooting outside the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta has left one police officer dead and raised new concerns about public safety, vaccine misinformation, and the protection of federal health workers.

Authorities identified the shooter as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White, who died during the incident. White, who had previously expressed anger and distrust toward COVID-19 vaccines, attempted to enter the CDC campus before opening fire on a nearby building. The attack has drawn condemnation from law enforcement officials and sparked urgent calls from the CDC’s staff union for federal leaders to speak out against vaccine-related misinformation.

Timeline of the Attack

According to law enforcement officials speaking to the Associated Press, the incident began late Friday when White attempted to enter the CDC’s main campus in Atlanta. Security guards prevented him from entering, after which he drove to a pharmacy across the street and began firing.

CDC Director Susan Monarez confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that at least four CDC buildings sustained bullet damage. The sprawling health campus, home to thousands of scientists and public health professionals, was placed on lockdown.

Responding to the gunfire, DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, 33, was mortally wounded. Rose, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Afghanistan, had only graduated from the police academy in March.

White was later found dead on the second floor of the pharmacy building. Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said investigators are still determining whether his fatal injury was self-inflicted or the result of return fire from officers.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) described the crime scene as “complex,” cautioning that the investigation could take an extended period.

Union Demands Federal Action Against Vaccine Misinformation

The American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2883, which represents CDC staff, said the shooting was not random and reflected a growing climate of hostility toward public health officials.

In a statement, the union demanded that both CDC leadership and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issue a strong, public condemnation of vaccine misinformation, which they say has endangered scientists and eroded public trust.

“Their leadership is critical in reinforcing public trust and ensuring that accurate, science-based information prevails,” the union said in its news release.

The union also urged that CDC staff be given time to recover before returning to work, noting that some employees, including more than 90 children at the on-site Clifton School, were forced to shelter in place for hours during the incident.

“Staff should not be required to work next to bullet holes,” the statement read, calling for full repairs and heightened security before normal operations resume.

Shooter’s Background and Vaccine Fixation

Investigators say White’s father alerted authorities during the attack, identifying his son as the possible shooter. He told police that his son had been grieving the loss of his dog and had become increasingly fixated on the belief that COVID-19 vaccines had harmed him.

Neighbor Nancy Hoalst told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that White frequently expressed distrust of vaccines during casual conversations.

“He was very unsettled, and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people,” Hoalst said. “I had no idea he thought he would take it out on the CDC.”

Authorities have not yet confirmed whether White acted alone or whether he had communicated any threats prior to the shooting.

Federal and Community Responses

In response to the attack, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued a statement condemning violence against public health workers.

“No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others,” Kennedy said.

The union and advocacy groups are now pressing for improved campus security, including permanent perimeter protections, until the full results of the GBI investigation are released.

Impact on Public Health Community

The CDC campus in Atlanta houses thousands of employees engaged in critical disease prevention, outbreak response, and public health research. The shooting has shaken morale among staff and renewed debate about the risks faced by scientists working in politically charged health fields.

Experts say the incident highlights the intersection of public safety and public trust, with misinformation posing not only a public health challenge but also a direct security threat.

For now, federal officials, local law enforcement, and CDC leadership are working to reassure employees and the public while ensuring that security measures are strengthened.

Source: AP News – CDC shooter blamed COVID vaccine for depression; union demands statement against misinformation

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