Information on the shooting incident that occurred at the United States' leading public health institution on Friday
In a shocking incident that unfolded on Friday afternoon, a gunman opened fire on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) campus in Atlanta. The motive behind the attack, according to preliminary investigations, appears to be rooted in vaccine-related conspiracy theories and personal health concerns blamed on the Covid-19 vaccine.
The shooting began just before 5 p.m., causing widespread anxiety across the Emory campus. People sought information about the incident, with some watching CNN for updates. Casey Cooksey, an employee of Emory University's IT Department, described the scene as "total fear for everybody" after hearing "lots of gunfire."
The gunman, identified as Patrick White, was armed with two handguns, a rifle, a shotgun, and two backpacks filled with ammunition. He wore a surgical mask and targeted at least four CDC buildings, causing damage and resulting in the death of one first responder, DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose.
Patrick White, a 30-year-old man, had expressed grievances about the Covid-19 vaccine to his neighbors, who reported that he believed the vaccine was harming him and that the government and media were covering it up. The suspect believed the vaccine was responsible for his worsening mental health and physical symptoms, leading him to carry out the attack on the CDC campus.
The attack has been attributed to vaccine misinformation, which the American Federation of Government Employees has condemned as a dangerous incitement of violence against public health officials. The shooting occurred at the Emory Atlanta Campus, specifically at the Emory Point CVS drugstore on Clifton Road.
During the tense lockdown that stretched into the night, residents, students, and parents were caught in a state of uncertainty. Randy Gold and his father encountered doctors, nurses, and valet parkers running towards them, screaming about an active shooter. Kristin Coles, a parent, drove as far as she could before police stopped her and walked about a mile to get closer to her child in a day care center across the CVS.
Atlanta Mayor Dickens stated that there were 92 children in a day care on the CDC campus, and all of them were safe. Roads near the Emory Point CVS, where the active shooter was located, were like a ghost town.
In response to the incident, CDC Director Susan Monarez informed CDC staff that they will work remotely on Monday while a "security assessment" is conducted. The shooting comes at a time when the CDC has faced uncertainty around staff employment and proposed budget cuts. Under the proposed reorganization, the CDC would lose additional programs, some of which would be transferred to a new Administration for a Healthy America, while others, such as the National Center for Chronic Disease and Health Promotion, would be eliminated entirely.
The Trump administration's proposed budget for the fiscal year 2026 would slash the CDC's funding by more than half. These findings reflect a motive rooted in vaccine-related conspiracy beliefs and mental health struggles linked by the suspect to Covid-19 vaccination.
- The attack at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campus in Atlanta was influenced by vaccine-related conspiracy theories and personal health concerns linked to the Covid-19 vaccine.
- The shooting on the Emory campus, specifically at the Emory Point CVS drugstore, has brought attention to the ongoing issue of health-and-wellness misinformation and its potential impact on general news and politics.
- Amidst growing concerns about staff employment, proposed budget cuts, and the recent shooting, the CDC Director has announced that CDC staff will work remotely for a security assessment to be conducted. This incident highlights the crucial role of health-and-wellness organizations like the CDC in preventing crime-and-justice incidences linked to medical-conditions and the importance of adequate funding for these institutions.
