Atlanta, Georgia — A man who fired over 500 rounds at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had attempted to access the agency’s campus two days prior to the shooting, according to internal emails from the CDC. This alarming revelation came to light during an ongoing investigation involving both the CDC’s safety team and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
Surveillance footage reportedly shows Patrick Joseph White, 30, trying to enter the CDC grounds on August 6. He was stopped at a security checkpoint without incident and did not make further attempts to gain access before the attack on August 8. While the footage does not definitively confirm his identity, authorities maintain a strong belief that it is indeed him.
In an email to CDC staff, Jeff Williams, the agency’s head of security, noted that it is not unusual for individuals planning such attacks to scout potential targets beforehand. He assured employees that the security measures in place were effective during the incident, which left staff on edge as they took cover while gunfire erupted around them.
White’s assault on the CDC resulted in the death of DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose and created chaotic scenes as employees were preparing to leave for the weekend. Witnesses described their fear as they sheltered under desks while bullets rained down near them.
In the wake of this violence, over 750 CDC employees expressed their concerns in a letter directed at HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. They urged him to cease spreading misinformation about vaccines, which they believe contributed to an environment of hostility toward public health officials. The letter emphasized that the attack was not random, linking White’s actions to his discontent with COVID-19 vaccine policies.
The response from HHS reiterated its commitment to staff safety and pledged support for the CDC. Kennedy conveyed his respect for the agency, calling it a leader in global health initiatives. However, he also faced criticism as the letter from CDC employees highlighted the potential consequences of inflammatory rhetoric surrounding public health.
Adding to the turmoil, approximately 600 CDC staff, previously placed on administrative leave, received termination notices shortly after the shooting. The CDC’s Union expressed concern over these layoffs, particularly given their timing following a violent incident on campus. Union representatives accused the agency of undermining employee stability and called for a reversal of the terminations, labeling them a “shameful choice.”
This crisis at the CDC has shed light on the precarious intersection of public health policy and public perception. Despite the agency’s emphasis on safety and response measures, staff remain unsettled as the fear of violence looms large in the backdrop of ongoing debates over health policies and vaccinations.