Crime
Exclusive: CDC shooter Patrick Joseph White pictured
The attack resulted in the death of DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose.
ATLANTA, GA โ Authorities have identified the suspect in Fridayโs deadly shooting outside Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw, Georgia.
The attack resulted in the death of DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose and left another officer with non-life-threatening injuries, Channel2 NOW has learned.
The incident began around 4:50 p.m. near the CDCโs Roybal Campus and the Emory Point shopping area. Officer Rose, 33, was the first to respond and was fatally shot after confronting the suspect.
Witnesses reported that White fired toward multiple CDC buildings before entering a CVS store at Emory Point, where an exchange of gunfire occurred on the second floor. White was killed at the scene.
The cause of his deathโwhether by police gunfire or self-inflictedโremains unconfirmed.
Investigators have not determined a motive, though reports suggest Whiteโs family believed he blamed the CDC and the COVID-19 vaccine for an illness.
Law enforcement agencies at the scene included Atlanta Police, DeKalb County Police, Emory Police, Georgia State Patrol, FBI, GBI, ATF, and several local police departments.
Emory University and CDC facilities were placed on lockdown, with children from the CDC daycare safely evacuated. No civilians were injured, though several CDC windows were damaged. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) described the site as a โcomplex crime sceneโ requiring extensive processing.
Officer Rose, a recent police academy graduate assigned to the North Central precinct, is survived by his wife, two children, and a third child on the way. โThis officer responded to the call as he was trained to do,โ Interim Chief Greg Padrick stated. โHe was committed to serving the community.โ
Neighbors described White as helpful, often assisting with yard work and walking dogs, but noted his strong anti-vaccine views and recent physical decline.
His LinkedIn profile lists attendance at Kennesaw State University and employment at Mellow Mushroom.
The CDC has directed staff to work remotely until a security assessment is completed.
GLEN BURNIE, Md. โ Authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting reported in Glen Burnie, Maryland, after an incident in which a suspect allegedly crashed a vehicle into a law enforcement agent.
Preliminary reports indicate that one suspect sustained a gunshot wound and was transported under a Priority B medical status.
Emergency medical services also responded to assist a law enforcement agent who reported neck pain; a second EMS unit was requested to provide additional medical evaluation and care.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting, including what prompted the vehicle collision and the use of force, have not yet been fully detailed by authorities.
Police have confirmed that the scene was secured, and standard investigative protocols for officer-involved shootings have been initiated.
No further information regarding the identities of those involved or the suspectโs condition has been released at this time.
Officials stated that additional details will be provided as the investigation continues.