Investigation into CDC Shooting Incident in Atlanta

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has detailed a recent incident at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, where a gunman left behind over 500 shell casings.

In a press release, the GBI reported the recovery of five firearms and more than 500 shell casings from the site. They executed a search warrant at the residence of Patrick Joseph White, retrieving electronic devices and written materials. The Crime Lab is currently analyzing the firearms and electronics. Notably, White, who had no prior criminal record, died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds and was not shot by police, according to the same report.

During the incident, White is said to have fired upwards of 180 rounds at the CDC headquarters. Security personnel prevented him from entering the campus, prompting him to park across the street and start setting fires from the sidewalk, reportedly causing damage to nearby windows. Tragically, the incident resulted in the death of DeKalb County police officer David Rose.

Although White had no criminal history, he was previously known to law enforcement. Reports indicate that on September 7, 2024, his father called 911 concerning his son attempting to access a firearm. White successfully obtained the weapon but later returned it to his father. This call was recorded as a suicide threat based on police documentation.

On April 25, 2025, White reached out to the Veterans’ Crisis Line, informing them that he was taking medication. When officers visited his home, he claimed he had no intention of self-harm and merely wanted to talk. Later, on July 21, 2025, White’s father reported him missing after he had said goodbye, but White returned later that day, prompting his father to notify the police.

White struggled with depression, which he attributed to the Covid-19 vaccine. A police report from September 7, 2024, recorded that he believed his health had significantly declined since receiving the vaccine.