Chaos and heartbreak unfolded Friday outside the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters when a gunman opened fire, shattering windows across multiple buildings and killing a responding police officer before being found dead nearby.
Authorities say the suspect, identified as Patrick Joseph White, 30, of Kennesaw, Georgia, was discovered deceased inside a nearby building following the violent incident. Investigators have yet to determine a motive.
The fallen officer, David Rose, 33, of the DeKalb County Police Department, was a dedicated father of two with a third child on the way. Officials say he was fatally shot while courageously responding to the active shooter call near Emory University. “This officer responded to the call as he was trained to do and lost his life protecting the community,” said Interim Police Chief Greg Padrick.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) confirmed that Rose and White both died during the incident. The GBI is now leading the investigation, which also includes a separate shooting that occurred before the CDC attack.
CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez, who was officially confirmed to her position just last week, called the incident “heartbreaking” and said the gunman fired on at least four CDC buildings. “Our top priority is the safety and well-being of everyone at CDC,” Monarez stated. “We are fully cooperating with federal, state, and local partners to uncover the details of this tragic crime.”
The sprawling CDC campus remains on lockdown as investigators work to piece together what led to the deadly outburst. Community leaders and residents are mourning the devastating loss. “This evening, there is a wife without a husband, and soon three children without a father,” said DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. “My heart goes out to the family and the law enforcement community.”
This marks one of the most shocking attacks on a federal health institution in recent history, leaving a community searching for answers and grieving the loss of a hero.
