Investigators examining the deadly August 8, 2025, shooting near the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta found evidence that suspected gunman Patrick Joseph White had expressed anger and distrust over COVID-19 vaccines.
The attack killed DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, 33, who was responding to reports of an armed man near the CDC's Roybal Campus and Emory University. No CDC employees or members of the public were reported killed in the attack.
What Authorities Initially Knew
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, officials identified White, 30, of Kennesaw, Georgia, as the suspected gunman but cautioned that the investigation was still developing.
Early media reports, citing relatives and neighbors, said White had repeatedly complained that a COVID-19 vaccine had harmed his health. Those accounts raised questions about a possible motive, but at that stage authorities had not publicly established his beliefs as the definitive reason for the attack.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which became the lead investigative agency, said the incident involved multiple law-enforcement agencies and an extensive crime scene.
Later Evidence Pointed to Vaccine Grievances
By August 12, the GBI had released additional evidence that more clearly connected White's grievances to COVID-19 vaccination.
Investigators said documents recovered during a search of White's home contained statements expressing his discontent with the COVID-19 vaccine. The GBI also said White had recently voiced suicidal thoughts and that law enforcement had been contacted about those concerns several weeks before the shooting.
Those findings strengthened the evidence that vaccine-related beliefs formed part of White's state of mind before the attack. However, investigators continued examining his writings, electronic devices and other evidence rather than reducing the case to a single unqualified motive.
The GBI said White had no previous criminal history and that his family was cooperating with investigators.
Officer David Rose Killed While Responding
Officer Rose was shot while responding to the active-shooter call. He was transported to a hospital but died from his injuries.
According to DeKalb County, Rose had entered the county police academy in September 2024 and graduated in March 2025. He was assigned to the North Central Precinct.
Before joining the police department, Rose served for four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including a deployment to Afghanistan. He left behind his wife, two young children and a third child who was expected later that year.
DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said after the shooting that Rose's death had left a wife without her husband and three children, including an unborn child, without their father.
More Than 500 Shell Casings Recovered
The scope of the attack became clearer as investigators processed the scene. The GBI later said more than 500 shell casings were recovered and five firearms were collected for forensic testing.
Gunfire struck multiple buildings on the CDC campus. The agency later documented shattered windows and damage around its Roybal Campus.
The GBI's subsequent investigation determined that Rose's fatal injuries were caused by one of White's weapons.
Investigators also concluded, based on preliminary medical examiner findings and other evidence, that White died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The GBI said he had not been struck by gunfire from law-enforcement officers.
CDC Staff Moved to Remote Work
CDC officials said security personnel and responding law-enforcement agencies acted quickly during the attack, helping prevent further casualties among employees and the surrounding community.
In the days afterward, most employees assigned to the Roybal Campus were moved to remote work while damage was assessed and additional security measures were put in place.
A later CDC statement said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. toured the damaged campus on August 11 and met with DeKalb County Police Chief Greg Padrick and Rose's widow.
The CDC said several buildings, including the main security booth, had sustained shattered windows.
Investigation Focused on Evidence, Not Speculation
The shooting occurred against a broader backdrop of intense public debate and misinformation surrounding COVID-19 vaccines and public-health agencies. The CDC had played a central role in the federal response to the pandemic and became a frequent target of criticism from vaccine opponents.
In this case, investigators relied on White's own writings, witness interviews, forensic evidence and electronic devices to determine what contributed to the attack.
The GBI emphasized that its investigation remained active as agents conducted interviews, analyzed electronic devices and sent firearms evidence for additional forensic testing.
The evidence released after the shooting established that White had expressed dissatisfaction with COVID-19 vaccines and had experienced suicidal thoughts before the attack. Authorities continued investigating the full circumstances surrounding the violence.
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