CDC Shooting Linked to Vaccine Grievance, Officer Killed

Patrick Joseph White, 30, from Kennesaw, Georgia, opened fire from a CVS pharmacy across the street from the CDC headquarters in Atlanta on August 8, 2025, killing DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose before dying at the scene. Investigators now believe White blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for his health issues and specifically targeted the CDC, though the official motive remains under investigation. The attack struck at least four CDC buildings and prompted lockdowns at both the CDC and Emory University. No CDC staff were physically harmed, but many experienced anxiety and panic while sheltering in place. The shooting has raised public safety concerns and intensified debates over vaccine misinformation and agency funding. Officer Rose, a Marine veteran and recent police academy graduate, is survived by his pregnant wife and two children.