On August 11, 2025, Atlanta found itself at the center of a national tragedy and a political firestorm, as U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrived at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just days after a deadly shooting shook the agency’s headquarters. The visit, marked by grief, controversy, and mounting questions about the safety of public health workers, underscored the growing tension surrounding America’s leading disease-fighting institution.
According to multiple reports, including those from FOX 5 Atlanta and ABC News, Kennedy’s motorcade was seen pulling up to the CDC’s Roybal campus on Clifton Road Monday morning. The visit came in the immediate aftermath of a violent attack on August 8, when 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw opened fire on the CDC headquarters just before 5 p.m. The shooting left DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose dead and sent shockwaves through Atlanta’s public health and law enforcement communities.
Officer Rose, who responded to the emergency call, was shot during the confrontation and died soon after at Emory University Hospital. The shooter, White, was later found dead with a gunshot wound on the second floor of a CVS store across the street from the CDC, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Amid the chaos, multiple windows of the CDC were struck by bullets, and the sprawling campus was placed on lockdown for several hours.
Perhaps most harrowing, 92 children were held inside a daycare facility on the CDC campus as the incident unfolded. It was only after law enforcement deemed the area safe that the children were reunited with their parents at an off-site location. Thankfully, other than Officer Rose, no one at the CDC or the nearby CVS was physically injured in the attack, as confirmed by Channel 2 Action News and ABC News.
The aftermath of the shooting has left the CDC community reeling. On Monday, the majority of CDC employees were instructed to work from home, leaving the usually bustling campus eerily quiet during Kennedy’s visit. The timing of the attack—just months after Dr. Susan Monarez assumed leadership as CDC Director, following President Trump’s return to office—added another layer of uncertainty to an already fraught situation.
Secretary Kennedy, whose Department of Health and Human Services oversees the CDC, reportedly met with Director Monarez to discuss the agency’s response and ongoing safety measures. While FOX 5 Atlanta did not capture Kennedy himself on camera, his presence was confirmed by both FOX News and ABC News. His visit, however, was not without controversy. Several protesters gathered outside the campus, holding signs and voicing their discontent with Kennedy’s leadership and public statements on health policy.
One man, claiming to be a former CDC employee, expressed his frustration bluntly to FOX 5 Atlanta: he said it was "offensive to him that Kennedy visited the CDC – saying that he has 'blood on his hands.'" Such sentiments echoed a broader debate that has simmered in the wake of the attack, with some critics arguing that Kennedy’s rhetoric has contributed to a climate of mistrust and hostility toward public health professionals.
Among the most vocal critics was former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, now a professor at Purdue University. Adams did not mince words, telling FOX 5 Atlanta, "When influential leaders dismiss decades of rigorous scientific work, they erode public confidence and embolden those primed to view health professionals as enemies rather than protectors." The statement captured a growing concern that misinformation and attacks on science are not just abstract threats, but have real-world consequences for the safety of those on the front lines.
In the days following the shooting, Kennedy released a public statement through ABC News, expressing his condolences and support for the victims and the CDC community. "We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDC’s Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose. 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. Public health workers show up every day with purpose — even in moments of grief and uncertainty. We honor their service. We stand with them. And we remain united in our mission to protect and improve the health of every American," Kennedy said.
The shooting has prompted renewed scrutiny of security protocols at federal health agencies, particularly as public health officials have faced increasing threats and harassment in recent years. The CDC, once a relatively anonymous institution, has been thrust into the political spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, with its scientists and staff frequently targeted by misinformation campaigns and public anger over health mandates.
The DeKalb County Police Department, meanwhile, has invited the public to pay their respects to Officer Rose at their headquarters in Tucker, Georgia. The outpouring of support for Rose’s family—he leaves behind a wife and three children—has been palpable, with colleagues and community members alike mourning the loss of a man described as dedicated and courageous.
For many, the tragedy at the CDC is a stark reminder of the risks faced by those who work to protect public health and the need for a more civil discourse around science and policy. As the investigation into the motives of Patrick Joseph White continues, questions linger about what led to the attack and how similar incidents can be prevented in the future.
At the same time, the episode has highlighted the deep divisions in American society over issues of science, trust, and leadership. While some see Kennedy’s visit as an important gesture of solidarity, others view it as emblematic of the very problems that have fueled distrust in public institutions. The presence of protesters and the pointed words of critics like Adams suggest that the wounds inflicted by the shooting—and by years of contentious debate over public health—will not heal easily.
As Atlanta and the nation grapple with the aftermath of the CDC shooting, the hope is that the memory of Officer Rose’s sacrifice and the resilience of public health workers will inspire renewed commitment to the values of service, safety, and truth. For now, the CDC campus remains a symbol of both vulnerability and resolve, its halls quieter than usual, but its mission unchanged.