It was late Friday afternoon in Atlanta, a time when most people were thinking about the weekend. But around 4:50 p.m. on August 8, 2025, everything changed near the intersection of Clifton Road and Michael Street. A man pulled up to the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and started firing. This wasn't just a random act of violence. It was a targeted barrage.
The CDC shooting Atlanta suspect was later identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White. He lived in Kennesaw, a suburb about 25 miles northwest of the city. He didn't just have one gun. He had five.
The Chaos on Clifton Road
White first tried to get onto the main Roybal Campus. Security guards turned him away. Instead of leaving, he drove to a CVS pharmacy right across the street. He didn't go inside at first. He stood on the sidewalk and began unloading a long gun into the federal buildings.
The numbers are staggering. Investigators found over 500 shell casings. More than 180 shots hit the CDC buildings. 150 windows were shattered. Even the "blast-resistant" glass couldn't hold up against that kind of volume. Inside, thousands of scientists and staff were forced to dive under desks. They were basically sitting ducks.
Building 21 took the brunt of it. That’s where the director, Susan Monarez, has her office.
Who Was Patrick Joseph White?
When news broke, everyone wanted to know who he was. White had no criminal record. None. To some of his neighbors in Kennesaw, he seemed like a "good guy" who did yard work and walked dogs.
But there was a darker side. His neighbor, Nancy Hoalst, told reporters he was "very unsettled." He would go on long monologues on his porch. The topic? The COVID-19 vaccine.
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Honestly, he was obsessed. White believed the vaccine had ruined his health and made him suicidal. He even wrote documents saying he wanted to make the public aware of his "discontent."
The day of the shooting, things reached a breaking point. White's father actually called the police earlier that Friday. He was worried his son was suicidal. He mentioned Patrick was also deeply upset over the death of his dog.
White didn't have keys to his father's gun safe. He broke into it. That's how he got the weapons—a mix of rifles, a shotgun, and handguns.
The Heroism of Officer David Rose
As the gunfire echoed, DeKalb County Police responded. Among them was Officer David Rose. He was 33 years old. A former Marine. A father of two with a third baby on the way.
Rose was mortally wounded in the shootout. He died at Emory University Hospital.
The CDC shooting Atlanta suspect didn't survive either. After retreating into the second floor of the CVS, White died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Political Fallout
This happened during a very tense time for the CDC. Under the Trump administration, the agency was already facing massive layoffs and funding cuts. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health and Human Services Secretary, visited the site that Monday.
The atmosphere was toxic. Some unionized workers blamed the "villainization" of federal staff for fueling the suspect's rage. They pointed to the rhetoric attacking science as a direct cause.
Others felt the agency's security was simply inadequate. How could a man fire nearly 200 rounds into the nation's premier health institution before being stopped?
Moving Forward: What to Know Now
If you're following this case, there are a few things that remain clear. The investigation by the GBI and FBI is still technically ongoing because of the sheer amount of evidence.
Here are the actionable takeaways and facts to keep in mind:
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- Security Changes: The CDC has implemented a "work from home" policy for many Roybal Campus employees while they replace windows and upgrade security measures.
- Mental Health Checks: This case has reignited the debate over "Red Flag" laws in Georgia, especially since the suspect's father tried to alert authorities just hours before the attack.
- Community Support: Multiple funds have been set up for the family of Officer David Rose. He is remembered as a hero who likely prevented White from entering the pharmacy and harming more civilians.
The Roybal Campus is still standing, but the bullet holes in the glass of Building 21 serve as a grim reminder of how quickly conspiracy theories can turn into a physical threat. If you're in the Atlanta area, expect continued police presence near Emory and the CDC for the foreseeable future.