Gunman at Georgia CDC, who fatally shot a police officer, attributed his depression to the Covid-19 vaccination
In August 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, was the site of a tragic shooting. The suspected gunman, Patrick Joseph White, was found dead at the scene, having reportedly taken his own life[1].
White, a 30-year-old man from Georgia, had expressed conspiracy-minded views about the COVID-19 vaccine, blaming it for his physical ailments and mental health struggles[1][2]. According to neighbours and sources close to White, he had spoken multiple times about his distrust of the vaccine[1].
During the shooting, White fired multiple rounds, injuring CDC buildings and killing one police officer, David Rose, who was responding to the incident[2][3]. The investigation found that White had no prior criminal history[2][3][4]. Authorities are treating the shooting as linked to White’s grievances about the vaccine and his mental health struggles[3][4].
The shooting took place on a campus that employs thousands of people who work on critical disease research[6]. In the aftermath, the union representing CDC staff called for perimeter security on all campuses until the investigation is fully completed and shared with staff[4]. They also emphasized that staff should not be required to work next to bullet holes, as it risks re-traumatizing them by exposing them to reminders of the shooting[4].
Officer David Rose, a former Marine who served in Afghanistan, had graduated from the police academy in March[5]. His tragic death has left a void in the DeKalb County Police Department. The union further stated that windows and buildings should be fixed and made "completely secure" before staff return to work[4].
The American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2883, has also called for a clear and unequivocal stance from federal officials in condemning vaccine disinformation[5]. Thousands of young children were locked down inside the CDC's Clifton School during the shooting[6]. At least four CDC buildings were hit during the shooting, with bullet marks left in windows across the sprawling campus[6].
While the investigation into the shooting is expected to take an extended period of time, authorities continue to investigate the vaccine-related grievances that appear to have been a key motivator behind White’s actions[1][2][3][4].
References: 1. ABC News 2. CNN 3. NBC News 4. The Washington Post 5. The New York Times 6. Associated Press
