Gunman photo released at CDC shooting

The GBI released the shooter photo and new findings about last Friday’s attack at the CDC campus.

Photo released of gunman in CDC Atlanta shooting

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation released a photo of 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White and outlined new details about last Friday’s attack at the CDC campus in Atlanta. The agency said five weapons found in White’s home belonged to his father, and that White died from a self inflicted gunshot wound after forcing entry into a safe that held them. Investigators described the mix as rifles, a shotgun and possibly a handgun, with uncertainty about the exact combination. Most shell casings at the scene came from a long gun.

Police say nearly 200 rounds struck six CDC buildings and 500 shell casings were recovered. The shooter did not have a known criminal history, though 11Alive reported prior 911 calls from White’s Cobb County residence for suicidal threats and domestic disturbances. White reportedly left written material expressing discontent with the COVID-19 vaccines. DeKalb County Officer David Rose was killed in the line of duty, and White died at a CVS after the confrontation near the CDC campus. The investigation included visits by federal officials and security assessments as employees continue remote work through the week.

The episode sits at the intersection of violence, public health and political discourse. It shows how threats to health workers and vaccines can fuse with personal grievances to produce a deadly outcome. The aftermath forces institutions to rethink campus security, remote-work arrangements and staff support in the wake of trauma. It also raises questions about how leaders frame public health messages and respond to threats that merge personal grievance with public duty.

Beyond the immediate tragedy, the case highlights the ripple effects on local communities, families, and public institutions that often carry the burden of keeping essential services running under pressure. The focus now shifts to security upgrades, mental health support for staff, and how authorities communicate about risk without amplifying fear or politicizing public health work.

Highlights

Investigators will continue to review the case and tighten security where needed.