On the afternoon of August 8, 2025, a tranquil summer day near Atlanta’s Emory University and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was shattered by a sudden burst of violence. According to Atlanta News First and corroborated by statements from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), a gunman opened fire near the CDC’s headquarters, leaving a veteran police officer dead and raising urgent questions about motive, safety, and the toll of gun violence on the community.
The suspect, identified by authorities as Patrick Joseph White, 30, of Kennesaw, Georgia, was found dead from a gunshot wound on the second floor of a building that houses a CVS store at Emory Point—a bustling mixed-use development surrounded by the university’s campus. The GBI reported that it remains unclear whether White died by suicide or was shot by law enforcement during the exchange of gunfire. "There is extensive evidence to collect due to the complex scene. Numerous interviews are being conducted. This investigation will take an extended period of time," the GBI stated, emphasizing the gravity and intricacy of the case.
The violence erupted around 4:30 p.m., prompting Emory University to issue a chilling "RUN, HIDE, FIGHT" alert to students, faculty, and staff. For nearly two hours, the campus and surrounding neighborhoods were under a shelter-in-place order as law enforcement officers swarmed the area, searching for the shooter and securing the scene. The order was finally lifted after officials confirmed the threat had been neutralized.
During the chaos, DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, just 33 years old, was fatally shot while responding to the incident. Officer Rose had joined the DeKalb Police Department less than a year earlier, in September 2024, and was assigned to the North-Central Precinct. County officials shared that he was a father of two, with a third child on the way—a detail that underscores the profound loss felt by his family and the wider community. "This evening there is a wife without a husband, there are three children, one unborn, without a father," DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said, her voice heavy with emotion. "There is a mother and father as well as siblings who also share in this traumatic loss."
Police Chief Gregory Padrick, speaking to the media, praised Officer Rose’s bravery and dedication: "This officer responded to the call as he did, as he was trained to do, and during that incident he received gunfire and he lost his life in this incident. He was committed to serving the community. 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."
Remarkably, no civilians were injured during the ordeal, despite the gunman firing on at least four CDC buildings. CDC Director Susan Monarez confirmed that the bullets struck multiple buildings across the street from the CVS, where the initial confrontation took place. Law enforcement sources told the Associated Press that White was armed with a long gun, and investigators recovered three additional firearms at the scene—a detail that hints at the potential for even greater tragedy had the situation escalated further.
Neighbors of Patrick Joseph White expressed shock at the unfolding events. One woman who lived across the street from White’s home described him to Atlanta News First as "always pleasant" and someone who "often helped neighbors do yard work or complete chores." She noted, however, that while he never discussed politics, he was outspoken in his opposition to vaccines, particularly the COVID-19 vaccine, which he believed had made him ill. Authorities, for their part, have not commented on White’s motive, and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens told reporters only that the suspect was "known to have interest in some certain things," without elaborating further. The investigation remains ongoing, with officials combing through evidence and conducting interviews in hopes of piecing together a clearer picture of what led to the tragedy.
The shooting at Emory Point was the second high-profile incident to rock Georgia in a matter of days. On August 6, an Army sergeant at Fort Stewart—over 200 miles away from Atlanta—used a personal handgun to shoot five fellow soldiers, an event that further heightened anxieties about public safety. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, responding to both incidents, issued a stark reminder of the risks faced by law enforcement and the public alike. "Twice this week, deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians," Kemp said in a statement. "Each time, brave first responders rushed toward the danger to subdue the shooter and save lives, reminding us of just how crucial they are."
As investigators work to unravel the specifics of the Emory Point shooting, the community is left to grapple with a sense of vulnerability and loss. The proximity of the violence to the CDC—a globally recognized center for public health—added a surreal dimension to the events, as did the apparent randomness of the attack. While neighbors’ recollections painted White as an unassuming figure, his actions on August 8 suggest a far more complicated reality, one that authorities are still striving to understand.
At the heart of the tragedy, however, is the sacrifice of Officer David Rose. His death serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers faced by those who choose to serve and protect. As DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson put it, "There is a mother and father as well as siblings who also share in this traumatic loss." The echoes of that loss will resonate long after the investigation concludes, shaping conversations about safety, mental health, and the responsibilities of both citizens and officials in preventing future tragedies.
For now, the Atlanta community mourns a fallen officer, supports a grieving family, and waits for answers—hoping that a clearer understanding of what happened at Emory Point might help prevent such heartbreak in the future.