Atlanta gunman Patrick Joseph White “targeted” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campus in an attack related to Covid-19, officials said.
White, 30, opened fire from an Atlanta CVS on Friday afternoon and hit at least four CDC buildings across the street, police said. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, a 33-year-old married father of two with a third on the way, was killed in the gunfire, officials said. No civilians were injured in the attack.
CDC Chief Operating Officer Christa Capozzola told agency staff that Friday’s shooting was a “targeted attack on C.D.C. related to Covid,” according to an email reviewed by The New York Times. White’s father told police his son believed the Covid-19 vaccine made him depressed and suicidal, according to the Associated Press.
White was found dead at the scene, but officials don’t know “whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted,” Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said Friday.
White’s neighbor, Nancy Hoalst, told The New York Times that he was “unsettled” and would often talk about anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. Hoalst noted she “never thought he would take it out on other people.”
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
Key points
- Suspected gunman believed Covid-19 vaccine made him suicidal: report
- Gunman identified as Patrick Joseph White
- Neighbor says suspected gunman was 'unsettled' and discussed anti-vaccine conspiracies
- Police officer who died was David Rose, married father of two with another child on the way
- Gunman struck CDC campus building
In pictures: The aftermath of the Atlanta shooting
21:35 , Katie Hawkinson
ICYMI: Suspected gunman had been reaching out for mental health assistance for weeks, report says
20:54 , Katie HawkinsonSuspected gunman Patrick Joseph White was reaching out for mental health assistance for weeks leading up to Friday’s shooting, CNN reports, citing information CDC leaders told staff during a meeting Saturday.
White did not make any threats leading up to Friday’s shooting, CDC leaders added.
CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Debra Houry told staffers that agency leaders are “mad this happened,” according to CNN.
ICYMI: Video captures sound of rapid-fire gunshots near CDC and Emory University on Friday
19:45 , Katie HawkinsonRecap: How did Friday's shooting unfold?
19:06 , Katie HawkinsonFriday’s shooting broke out around 5 p.m. at a CVS across the street from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campus.
Nearby Emory University went into lockdown as a result.
The gunman, Patrick Joseph White, first tried to enter the CDC campus but was turned away by guards, the Associated Press reports, citing law enforcement officials.
White then drove to the CVS, where he fired multiple rounds at the CDC campus, striking at least four buildings, officials said. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was also fatally shot, and he later died at Emory University Hospital.
Police found White dead in the CVS, but officials don’t know “whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted,” Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said Friday.
Police also found five guns at the scene of the shooting, including four long guns, The New York Times reports, citing a preliminary report from the Justice Department. Some, if not all of these guns, belonged to White’s father, according to the report reviewed by the Times.
Everything we know about Officer David Rose
18:18 , Katie HawkinsonPolice say Patrick Joseph White fatally shot DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose on Friday.
DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson called Friday a “very dark day” for the community.
"This evening there is a wife without a husband, there are three children, one unborn, without a father," Cochran-Johnson said of Rose’s death. "There is a mother and father as well as siblings who also share in this traumatic loss."
Rose had a one-year-old son with his current wife and a six-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, The New York Times reports.
Rose served his community with “courage, integrity and unwavering dedication,” the DeKalb County Police Department said in a statement.
“Even in the face of danger was he diligent in his duty to protect our community,” the statement reads.
CDC officials told staff the agency was targeted
17:29 , Katie HawkinsonThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Chief Operating Officer Christa Capozzola told staff that Friday’s shooting specifically targeted the agency.
She called the shooting “a targeted attack on C.D.C. related to Covid,” according to an email reviewed by The New York Times.
Suspected gunman Patrick Joseph White’s father told police his son was fixated on the Covid-19 vaccine and believed it made him suicidal, the Associated Press reported.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
Gunman used weapons that belonged to his father: report
16:56 , Katie HawkinsonPatrick Joseph White, the man police say fired at the CDC campus and killed a DeKalb County police officer Friday, may have used weapons that belonged to his father.
White, 30, lived with his parents in Kennesaw, Georgia. Police found five guns at the scene of the shooting, including four long guns, The New York Times reports, citing a preliminary report from the Justice Department.
Some, if not all of these guns, belonged to White’s father, according to the report reviewed by the Times.
In pictures: Aftermath of shooting at CVS
16:33 , Katie HawkinsonPolice say Patrick Joseph White opened fire from an Atlanta CVS, across the street from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campus.
ICYMI: Patrick Joseph White's neighbors speak out
16:00 , Katie HawkinsonSuspected gunman Patrick Joseph White’s neighbor, Nancy Hoalst, described the 30-year-old as “unsettled” and said he would often talk about anti-vaccine conspiracy theories.
“He very deeply believed that vaccines had hurt him, and that they were hurting other people,” Hoalst told The New York Times.
However, Hoalst said she “never thought he would take it out on other people.”
“It was a such a belief, it was almost like faith,” she added. “It was a tenet of who he was.”
Another neighbor, Joshua Shirah, told WSBTV White was “an OK guy” who lived with his parents and helped neighbors with yard work.
“Not the kind of person I thought would do that, but stuff happens,” Shirah said.
Full story: Georgia gunman who killed a police officer and targeted the CDC was fixated on the Covid-19 vaccine, reports reveal
15:33 , Katie HawkinsonThe gunman who opened fire near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campus and Emory University on Friday was fixated on the Covid-19 vaccine, his father reportedly told police.
Here’s everything we know so far about Patrick Joseph White:
What we know about Georgia gunman Patrick Joseph White who killed a cop outside CDC
CDC employees felt like 'sitting ducks': report
15:00 , Katie HawkinsonEmployees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campus in Atlanta, Georgia are shaken up in the wake of Friday’s shooting, CNN reports.
CDC leaders held a call with staff on Saturday, during which employees described feeling like “sitting ducks” during the shooting, CNN reports.
CDC leaders are “mad this happened,” Chief Medical Officer Dr. Debra Houry told staff.
Suspect's father identified him as gunman to police
14:42 , Katie HawkinsonPatrick Joseph White’s father called the police and identified his son as the potential shooter, the Associated Press reports, citing law enforcement.
White, 30, lived with his parents in Kennesaw, Georgia, a suburb about 30 miles from the scene of the shooting.
Suspected gunman's father revealed details to police
14:40 , Katie HawkinsonSuspected gunman Patrick Joseph White’s father is providing key information to police, the Associated Press reports.
Leading up to the shooting, White was upset about the recent death of his dog, his father told police. White was also fixated on the Covid-19 vaccine, his father revealed.
White’s neighbor, Nancy Hoalst, similarly told The New York Times that White was “unsettled” and would often talk about anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. Hoalst noted she “never thought he would take it out on other people.”
Suspected gunman had been reaching out for mental health assistance for weeks: report
14:22 , Katie HawkinsonSuspected gunman Patrick Joseph White was reaching out for mental health assistance for weeks leading up to Friday’s shooting, CNN reports, citing information CDC leaders told staff during a meeting Saturday.
White did not make any threats leading up to Friday’s shooting, CDC leaders added.
CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Debra Houry told staffers that agency leaders are “mad this happened,” according to CNN.
Suspected gunman tried to enter CDC campus but was turned away
14:18 , Katie HawkinsonSuspected gunman Patrick Joseph White tried to enter the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campus on Friday afternoon, but was turned away by guards, the Associated Press reports.
White then went to a CVS across the street and opened fire. Police found five guns at the scene.
Suspected gunman believed Covid-19 vaccine made him suicidal: report
14:15 , Katie HawkinsonSuspected gunman Patrick Joseph White blamed the Covid-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal, his father told police, according to the Associated Press.
This comes after White opened fire at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campus in Atlanta on Friday, striking at least four buildings. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was also killed in the gunfire.
White was found dead at the scene, though officials don’t know “whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted,” Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said Friday.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
Community reacts to death of Officer David Rose
05:00 , Katie HawkinsonPolice say Patrick Joseph White fatally shot DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose on Friday.
DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson called Friday a “very dark day” for the community.
"This evening there is a wife without a husband, there are three children, one unborn, without a father," Cochran-Johnson said of Rose’s death. "There is a mother and father as well as siblings who also share in this traumatic loss."
Police Chief Gregory Padrick said Rose responded to reports of gunfire as he was trained to do.
“He was committed to serving the community," Padrick said. "It’s a noble profession we all do. We answer the call to serve our community and he gave his life with a commitment to serve others."
Rose served his community with “courage, integrity and unwavering dedication,” the DeKalb County Police Department said in a statement.
“Even in the face of danger was he diligent in his duty to protect our community,” the statement reads.
ICYMI: Bullets hit at least four CDC buildings
04:00 , Katie HawkinsonPolice say the suspected gunman, Patrick Joseph White, opened fire from inside a CVS across the street from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campus in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday afternoon. No civilians were injured.
The gunman struck at least four buildings on the health agency’s campus, CDC Director Susan Monarez said. CDC employees told CNN that bullets broke through the windows and flew past cubicles.
“It’s a miracle no one was killed here,” one employee told the outlet.
ICYMI: FBI Director reacts to Georgia shooting
03:00 , Katie HawkinsonFBI Director Kash Patel said his agency is offering its full support to the loved ones of DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, who was killed in Friday’s shooting.
“Pray for the family, friends, and colleagues of this hero who acted quickly to defend others and made the ultimate sacrifice,” Patel wrote on X. “The FBI will offer them our full support.”
What was the suspected gunman's motive?
02:00 , Katie HawkinsonPolice have not publicly revealed the motive of suspected gunman Patrick Joseph White.
However, CNN reported Friday that police believe White may have targeted the CDC because he believed the Covid-19 vaccine had made him ill.
The New York Times reported Saturday that White was fixated on the Covid-19 vaccine.
White’s neighbor, Nancy Hoalst, told Times that he was “unsettled” and would often talk about anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. Hoalst noted she “never thought he would take it out on other people.”
“He very deeply believed that vaccines had hurt him, and that they were hurting other people,” Hoalst said.
ICYMI: Residents unnerved in shooting aftermath
01:00 , Katie HawkinsonLocal residents say they’re shaken up in the wake of Friday’s shooting.
Jabel Hendrix told 11 Alive he often shops at the CVS where police say suspected gunman Patrick Joseph White opened fire. White was later found dead on the second floor of the CVS, police said.
“There’s bullet holes… I go into this CVS and grab stuff all the time. I can’t imagine,” he added.
Everything we know about suspected gunman Patrick Joseph White
Sunday 10 August 2025 00:00 , Katie HawkinsonPolice identified the suspected shooter as Patrick Joseph White on Saturday morning.
Here’s what we know about him:
What we know about Georgia gunman Patrick Joseph White who killed a cop outside CDC
Video captures sound of multiple gunshots near CDC campus on Friday
Saturday 9 August 2025 23:00 , Katie HawkinsonIn pictures: Aftermath of Atlanta shooting
Saturday 9 August 2025 22:08 , Katie HawkinsonRFK Jr. responds to shooting
Saturday 9 August 2025 21:19 , Katie HawkinsonHealth and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. responded to the shooting on Saturday.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDC’s Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose,” Kennedy wrote on X. “We stand with his wife and three children and the entire CDC family. We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others.”
“We are actively supporting CDC staff on the ground and across the agency,” he added. “Public health workers show up every day with purpose — even in moments of grief and uncertainty.
Neighbor says suspected gunman was 'unsettled' and discussed anti-vaccine conspiracies
Saturday 9 August 2025 20:48 , Katie HawkinsonSuspected gunman Patrick Joseph White’s neighbor, Nancy Hoalst, described the 30-year-old as “unsettled” and said he would often talk about anti-vaccine conspiracy theories.
“He very deeply believed that vaccines had hurt him, and that they were hurting other people,” Hoalst told The New York Times.
However, Hoalst said she “never thought he would take it out on other people.”
“It was a such a belief, it was almost like faith,” she added. “It was a tenet of who he was.”
Another neighbor, Joshua Shirah, told WSBTV White was “an OK guy” who lived with his parents and helped neighbors with yard work.
“Not the kind of person I thought would do that, but stuff happens,” Shirah said.
Five guns found at the scene
Saturday 9 August 2025 20:29 , Katie HawkinsonFive guns were found at the scene of Friday’s shooting near the CDC campus and Emory University, The New York Times reports, citing a preliminary report from the Justice Department.
Four of these weapons were long guns, while at least one had a scope, according to the report reviewed by the Times.
Suspected gunman 'fixated' on Covid-19 vaccine: report
Saturday 9 August 2025 20:27 , Katie HawkinsonSuspected gunman Patrick Joseph White was fixated on the Covid-19 vaccine and believed it was the cause of physical ailments he was suffering from, The New York Times reports, citing officials.
CDC officials told their staff on Saturday that investigators discovered White was “very disturbed,” the Times reports. White had recently sought mental health assistance, officials added.
However, there were no threats made against the CDC that indicated an attack was imminent, officials reportedly said.
CDC holds call with employees in wake of shooting
Saturday 9 August 2025 20:22 , Katie HawkinsonThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s director reportedly held a call with some staff to discuss Friday’s shooting, which left at least four buildings on the agency’s Atlanta campus riddled with bullet holes.
CDC Director Susan Monarez held the call with the agency’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, which is housed in one of the buildings struck by gunfire, The Washington Post reports.
“They emphasized that they want campus to feel safe before we come back but I don’t know how that would happen,” a CDC employee told the Post.
Monarez didn’t reveal any additional information about the suspect’s motives, the Post reports.
Officials have not yet publicly discussed a motive. However, a law enforcement official told CNN police believe the shooter may have targeted the CDC because he believed he had an illness caused by the Covid-19 vaccine.
Residents shaken up in wake of shooting
Saturday 9 August 2025 20:13 , Katie HawkinsonLocal residents say they’re shaken up in the wake of Friday’s shooting.
Jabel Hendrix, who works in the area, told 11 Alive he was instructed to stay home Friday while his coworkers sheltered in place.
“I was worried about my coworkers, making sure they were good,” he said.
Hendrix often shops at the CVS where police say suspected gunman Patrick Joseph White opened fire. White was later found dead on the second floor of the CVS.
“There’s bullet holes… I go into this CVS and grab stuff all the time. I can’t imagine,” he added.
Who was Officer David Rose?
Saturday 9 August 2025 19:41 , Katie HawkinsonDeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, 33, was fatally shot during Friday’s shooting near the CDC campus and Emory University.
Rose was a married father of two children with a third on the way.
“Officer Rose served DeKalb County with courage, integrity, and unwavering dedication,” the DeKalb County Police Department said in a tribute. “Even in the face of danger was he diligent in his duty to protect our community.”
ICYMI: FBI Director reacts to Georgia shooting
Saturday 9 August 2025 19:00 , Katie HawkinsonFBI Director Kash Patel said his agency is offering its full support to the loved ones of DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, who was killed in Friday’s shooting.
“Pray for the family, friends, and colleagues of this hero who acted quickly to defend others and made the ultimate sacrifice,” Patel wrote on X. “The FBI will offer them our full support.”
Suspected gunman's neighbor reacts in wake of shooting
Saturday 9 August 2025 18:18 , Katie HawkinsonJoshua Shirah, the neighbor of suspected Atlanta gunman Patrick Joseph White, told WSBTV the 30-year-old seemed like “an OK guy.”
White lived with his parents and often did yard work for neighbors, Shirah said. Police arrived at White’s home around 11:30 p.m. on Friday night, he told WSBTV.
“I communicated with him a few times,” Shirah said. “I know he did work for my grandfather around the house.”
“Not the kind of person I thought would do that, but stuff happens,” he added.
In pictures: CVS and CDC buildings damaged by gunfire
Saturday 9 August 2025 18:00 , Katie HawkinsonWatch: Photos of CDC buildings struck by gunfire revealed
Saturday 9 August 2025 17:55 , Katie HawkinsonDozens of kids were at a daycare on the CDC campus when gunfire broke out
Saturday 9 August 2025 17:12 , Katie HawkinsonNinety-two children were at a daycare on the CDC campus when police say Patrick Joseph White, 30, opened fire.
All of the children were safe, and no civilians were injured in the shooting. One mother whose toddler was at the daycare told CBS News the incident was “anxiety-inducing” and “very scary.”
“I'm also a bit angry that at a year and a half, he would have to experience something like this,” she said.
What do we know about the suspected gunman?
Saturday 9 August 2025 16:58 , Katie HawkinsonGeorgia police identified the gunman who opened fire near the CDC campus as Patrick Joseph White, 30.
He is from Kennesaw, a town about 30 miles away from the CDC campus where Friday’s shooting unfolded.
The gunman was found dead at the scene, but officials don’t know “whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted,” Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said Friday.
Officials haven’t publicly confirmed his motive, but police are working on the theory that White targeted the CDC because he believed he had an illness caused by the Covid-19 vaccine, a law enforcement official told CNN.
Everything we know about the suspected gunman
Saturday 9 August 2025 16:29 , Katie HawkinsonGeorgia police have identified the gunman who opened fire near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campus and Emory University on Friday, killing a police officer and striking the health agency’s buildings in a rapid volley of fire.
The suspected gunman, who is now dead, has been identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation revealed Saturday. A DeKalb County police officer was killed in the shooting.
Police say the gunman also fired several rounds at the CDC buildings from a CVS across the street. Several windows in the CDC building were shown with bullet holes in the aftermath.
No civilians were hurt, officials confirmed.
Here’s what we know about the suspected gunman and how Friday’s shooting unfolded:
What we know about Georgia gunman Patrick Joseph White who killed a cop outside CDC
Watch: Students hear gunfire near Emory University
Saturday 9 August 2025 16:10 , Katie HawkinsonIn pictures: Police investigate shooting scene
Saturday 9 August 2025 15:37 , Katie Hawkinson
Where is the suspected shooter from?
Saturday 9 August 2025 15:16 , Katie HawkinsonThe Georgia Bureau of Investigation says Patrick Joseph White, 30, is from Kennesaw, Georgia.
The town is about 30 miles away from the CDC campus where Friday’s shooting unfolded.
How did the Emory University shooting unfold?
Saturday 9 August 2025 15:00 , Katie HawkinsonA gunman, who reportedly believed he was sick from the COVID-19 vaccine, is dead after opening fire at Emory University, near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, on Friday.
Here’s how the incident unfolded:
Suspect in Emory University shooting dead after killing one police officer
Gunman identified as Patrick Joseph White
Saturday 9 August 2025 14:52 , Katie HawkinsonThe Georgia Bureau of Investigation has identified the gunman as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw, Georgia.
White died during the incident. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was also killed.
Gunman struck CDC campus buildings
Saturday 9 August 2025 14:28 , Katie HawkinsonPolice say a gunman opened fire in a CVS across the street from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campus in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday afternoon.
The gunman fired several shots at the agency’s buildings, breaking windows. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was killed in the shooting.
Officials have declined to comment on the gunman’s motive. However, the gunman may have targeted the CDC because he believed he was sick from the COVID-19 vaccine, a law enforcement official told CNN.
ICYMI: Gunman opened fire outside CDC HQ
Saturday 9 August 2025 14:00 , APA man opened fire outside the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on Friday, leaving bullet marks in windows across the sprawling campus and killing a police officer before he was found dead in a nearby building, authorities said.
The attack, which unfolded near neighboring Emory University, prompted a massive law enforcement response to one of the nation's most prominent public health institutions, but no one else was reported to be injured.
At least four CDC buildings were hit, Director Susan Monarez said in a post on X. Images shared by employees showed multiple agency buildings with bullet-pocked windows, underscoring the breadth of the damage to a site where thousands of scientists and staff work on critical disease research.
The gunman was found on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDC campus and died at the scene, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said.
He added that "we do not know at this time whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted."
