The aftermath of last Friday’s shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta continues to reverberate through the city and the nation, as new details emerge about the gunman, the harrowing moments experienced by employees, and the calls for greater security and accountability within the nation’s leading public health agency.
Authorities identified the shooter as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after unleashing a barrage of gunfire that shattered the CDC campus and claimed the life of DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), White forced open his father’s gun safe to retrieve five firearms—a mix of rifles, a shotgun, and possibly a handgun—and brought them to the scene. GBI Director Chris Hosey told reporters at a Tuesday press conference that investigators recovered more than 500 shell casings, with nearly 200 rounds striking six CDC buildings. The majority of the shell casings came from a long gun, he added.
The violence began when White attempted to enter the CDC campus but was stopped by security guards. Thwarted, he crossed the street to the CVS at Emory Point, a mixed-use development near Emory University, and opened fire on the CDC buildings from there. According to Atlanta News First, Officer David Rose, 33, was killed while responding to the unfolding chaos. Officer Rose leaves behind a wife, two children, and a third child on the way. The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of support, with a GoFundMe campaign for his family raising over $330,000 as of August 12, 2025.
“Our hearts and prayers go to the family, friends and colleagues of DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, who was killed in the line of duty during this incident. He served with honor, courage and unwavering dedication,” Director Hosey said, as reported by 11Alive. “His sacrifice will never be forgotten and his commitment to protecting others is a profound testament to the very best of the law enforcement profession.” FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul W. Brown added, “Officer Rose died a hero protecting his community.”
The scale of the assault stunned even seasoned investigators. Nearly 200 rounds hit six CDC buildings, shattering at least 150 windows and propelling glass shards up to 60 feet into multiple rooms, according to CBS News. Building 21, which houses CDC Director Susan Monarez’s office, sustained the largest number of bullet impacts. The Associated Press noted that the process of cleaning up and replacing windows and doors—many of which were forcibly opened by police during the emergency response—could take weeks or even months.
Inside the CDC, employees found themselves in terrifying and confusing circumstances. Four employees, speaking to CBS News on condition of anonymity, described a mix of panic and disbelief. One recalled, “I was walking to my car. I heard a very, very distinct and crisp pop, pop, pop, pop. I knew that I had to get myself to safety because if I continued walking across the courtyard, I could potentially be in a killing field.” Another, who was inside a building with her children at the on-site daycare, described sheltering in a bathroom for hours, the only place without windows, as bullets struck the building. “My kids kept asking what was that loud popping noise,” she said. “I’m still figuring out how this has affected my children.”
Children at the campus daycare were among those safely evacuated during police clearing operations, according to the GBI. Many CDC employees worked remotely on Monday and have been advised that remote work will continue through the end of the week while security and safety assessments are ongoing.
The shooter, Patrick White, had no prior criminal record, but his family and police records paint a picture of a troubled individual. Law enforcement responded to White’s home in Kennesaw 11 times between June 2024 and August 2025, including calls for suicidal threats and domestic disturbances. His father, Kenneth White, made multiple 911 calls the day of the shooting, expressing concern that his son might be involved. “I’m very worried that he might have been involved in this shooting today,” Kenneth White said in one call, as reported by 11Alive. “I can’t get any information from anybody. I’ve called the DeKalb County 911 number three times and left detailed information, and no one ever called us back.”
Investigators searching White’s residence found written documentation expressing his discontent with COVID-19 vaccinations. His family told police he believed the COVID-19 vaccine was making him depressed and suicidal. Neighbors told CBS News that White was outspokenly against vaccines, and a law enforcement source said he had become fixated on the issue, further agitated by the recent death of his dog.
In the wake of the attack, CDC employees and their union have voiced disappointment with what they see as a lack of leadership and communication. The CDC Union AFGE Local 2883, representing over 2,300 members, criticized Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for what they described as a brief visit to the campus compared to the duration of the attack. “He spent less time on the ground than the attacker did,” the union stated. They called for immediate improvements in communication and security, including 24/7 perimeter armed guards, bulletproof glass, weapon detection systems, and more robust evacuation planning.
Some employees expressed frustration with what they perceive as hostile rhetoric directed at public health institutions and workers, particularly around the COVID pandemic and vaccines. “I think this violence was a result of the rhetoric used by the secretary of health and his appointees and followers, vilifying CDC, CDC workers, accusing us of atrocities and some of his followers have said we need to be punished,” CDC employee Anne Yousaf told 11Alive. “I think leadership, especially (HHS Sec. Robert) Kennedy, denouncing that rhetoric and telling his followers publicly that violence against public health workers is unacceptable — would be a big help.”
Secretary Kennedy, who toured the CDC campus and met with Officer Rose’s widow, issued a statement through HHS: “No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others,” he said, pledging that top federal health officials were “actively supporting CDC staff.”
As the investigation continues, authorities have asked anyone with video evidence or relevant information to contact the GBI. The FBI noted that, so far, there has been no detected rise in threats to CDC workers following the shooting. Electronic devices recovered from White’s residence remain under examination for further clues about his motive.
The events of last Friday have left a lasting mark on the CDC community and the broader Atlanta area. While the physical damage to the campus is substantial, the emotional toll on employees, first responders, and families is immeasurable. The tragedy has sparked renewed debate about security for public health workers and the need for a more civil public discourse—one that, as many hope, will help prevent such violence in the future.