Officer killed, gunman dead after shooting near CDC headquarters in Atlanta

A police officer was killed and a gunman died after a shooting Friday near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta that authorities say was fueled by conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines.

Dekalb County police officer David Rose was killed when a gunman fired multiple rounds near the CDC complex in Atlanta, GA

DeKalb County police said Officer David Rose, 33, was fatally shot while responding to reports of gunfire around 4:50 p.m. near the CDC campus. Rose, an Army veteran and father of two with another child on the way, was hailed by officials for his bravery.

The shooter, identified as Patrick Joseph White, 30, of Kennesaw, Georgia, was found dead at the scene inside a CVS pharmacy across the street from the CDC complex. Authorities have not confirmed whether White died from police gunfire or a self-inflicted wound.

Investigators said White believed the COVID-19 vaccine had caused depression and suicidal thoughts. His father and neighbors described him as increasingly consumed by vaccine-related conspiracy theories in recent months.

At least four CDC buildings were struck by bullets, though no employees were injured. Several sought medical attention for stress and anxiety following the incident. CDC leaders ordered staff to work remotely Monday and removed security decals from vehicles to make workers less identifiable while authorities assess ongoing safety concerns.

The CDC employees’ union condemned vaccine misinformation and urged federal leaders, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to denounce it. Former Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams criticized Kennedy’s response as “tepid” and slow.

The shooting drew an outpouring of tributes for Rose from across Georgia. “He gave his life in service to our community,” DeKalb County officials said in a statement. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

The investigation remains ongoing.