A 30-year-old man has been named a suspect in a shooting that occurred outside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta on Friday.
The suspect, Patrick Joseph White from Kennesaw, Georgia, was identified by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Saturday.
Authorities are still looking into what might have motivated White.
Here’s what we know about him.
He died at the scene
Police discovered White on the second floor of a building occupied by a CVS pharmacy and the Associated Press. The shooter sustained serious injuries and eventually died on site. There’s still uncertainty surrounding whether police shot him or if his injuries were self-inflicted.
Fatally shot a police officer
White fatally shot David Rose, a 33-year-old officer with the DeKalb County police, who was responding to the scene. “He dedicated himself to serving our community, and right now, we ask everyone for their prayers,” said interim Police Chief Greg Padrick at a press conference following the incident. “It’s a noble calling we all answer to, and he lost his life in doing so,” he added.
While Rose was the only fatality, several others reported experiencing anxiety and were treated at a local hospital following the incident.
Four target buildings
Law enforcement stated that White targeted four buildings on the CDC campus.
“We at @CDCGOV are deeply saddened by today’s attack on the Royval campus. A courageous law enforcement officer has lost his life, and another individual was injured as a result of the gunfire,” the CDC announced on their social media.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also expressed sorrow over the incident. He stated, “We are profoundly saddened by the tragic shooting on the CDC’s Atlanta campus that claimed the life of David Rose.” He further mentioned that no one should have to encounter violence while striving to safeguard public health.
However, some groups have criticized Kennedy for his views on vaccine safety, claiming, “Kennedy has contributed to a hostile environment for CDC staff by spreading misinformation about science and vaccines.”
