Late on Friday, August 8, 2025, the usually quiet corridors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta were thrown into chaos. As employees wrapped up the workweek, bullets shattered office windows and sent staff scrambling for cover, with many later describing themselves as "sitting ducks." According to CNN, the gunfire erupted just before 5 p.m. at the Emory Point CVS on Clifton Road, directly across from the CDC’s main entrance and adjacent to the sprawling Emory University campus.
The suspected gunman, identified by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White from Kennesaw, Georgia, was found dead on the second floor of the CVS. Police could not immediately determine whether he died from self-inflicted wounds or was struck by police gunfire. But by the time the shooting stopped, two men were dead: White and DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, 33, who had responded to the scene.
Officer Rose, a former U.S. Marine who served in Afghanistan, was described as committed to his community. He leaves behind a pregnant wife and two daughters, as reported by DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. Interim Police Chief Greg Padrick told reporters, "He was committed to serving the community. At this time we are asking for the community’s prayers." FBI Director Kash Patel added on X, "Pray for the family, friends, and colleagues of this hero who acted quickly to defend others and made the ultimate sacrifice."
Details emerged quickly in the aftermath. According to the Atlanta Police Department, the local 911 center received an active shooter alert around 4:50 p.m. Officers arriving at the CVS found Rose wounded, while gunfire still echoed from within the pharmacy. The shooter, heavily armed with two handguns, a rifle, a shotgun, and two backpacks filled with ammunition, had already fired on the CDC campus, riddling four buildings with at least 40 bullet holes. Images published by CNN show windows in CDC buildings shattered, with rounds flying just above the cubicle walls of startled employees. "It’s a miracle no one was killed here," a CDC employee told CNN.
The motive, while not officially confirmed, has been widely reported as connected to the gunman's fixation on vaccines. Law enforcement officials told The New York Times and CNN that White blamed the Covid-19 vaccine for his health issues and appeared to have targeted the CDC because of this belief. White’s neighbor, Nancy Hoalst, told The New York Times, "He very deeply believed that vaccines had hurt him, and that they were hurting other people." Investigators noted that White had been reaching out for mental health assistance in the weeks before the attack but had not made threats that would have signaled his intent.
The shooting sent shockwaves across the Emory University campus and the surrounding neighborhood. Residents, students, and parents picking up children from daycare found themselves in a tense lockdown that stretched into the night. University alerts blared: "Active shooter on Emory Atlanta Campus at Emory Point CVS. RUN, HIDE, FIGHT. Avoid the area. Continue shelter in place. Police on scene." According to CNN affiliate WXIA, Casey Cooksey, an Emory IT employee, described hearing "lots of gunfire" and said, "It was just a bunch of rapid fire. It was a minute before we heard any sirens. It was just a lot of loud shooting."
The chaos extended to nearby daycare centers, including one on the CDC campus where 92 children were present. Staff quickly implemented lockdown procedures, securing doors, silencing phones, and moving children to interior shelter spaces. Natalie Feagin, executive director of the Clifton School, reassured parents in an email that all children were safe and reunited with their families by 11 p.m. local time. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens confirmed the children’s safety, noting, "This just speaks to a lot of what needs to be done to keep our kids safe. This is ridiculous."
Inside the CDC, the trauma was palpable. On Saturday, nearly 800 staff joined a hastily arranged Zoom call with agency leadership. According to CNN, many staffers tearfully told Director Susan Monarez they felt like "sitting ducks" as bullets tore through their offices. Monarez acknowledged the attack was targeted and deliberate, telling employees in a statement, "The active shooter incident near our campus today has understandably brought fear, anger and worry to all of us. I want to express my deep appreciation for your professionalism and resilience during this time." She announced that all CDC employees would work remotely while a security assessment was conducted.
The attack also highlighted the growing tension and threats faced by public health officials. In a post on X, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote, "We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDC’s Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others. Public health workers show up every day with purpose — even in moments of grief and uncertainty."
Mayor Dickens, speaking at a press conference, reflected on the challenges faced by CDC staff, referencing "uncertainty" following workforce cuts and looming budget reductions. The CDC has reportedly lost nearly a quarter of its staff since January, and the Trump administration’s proposed 2026 budget would slash the agency’s funding by more than half, according to CNN. Some programs could be eliminated or transferred to a new federal agency, adding further stress to an already traumatized workforce.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. The GBI noted the complexity of the scene and indicated that collecting evidence and conducting interviews would take time. "This investigation will take an extended period of time," the agency said in a statement. Mayor Dickens added that the suspect was "a known person that may have some interest in certain things that I can’t reiterate right now with any confidence until the investigation is fully conducted."
For many in Atlanta and beyond, the attack was a stark reminder of the risks faced by those in public service, especially amid ongoing debates and misinformation about vaccines. As the city mourns the loss of Officer Rose and grapples with the trauma inflicted on CDC staff, the search for answers—and for ways to prevent such tragedies in the future—continues.
