A Georgia man who believed the COVID-19 vaccine made him depressed and suicidal opened fire in Atlanta on Friday, killing a police officer and causing major damage at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Officials say 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White fired more than 180 shots into the CDC campus, breaking about 150 windows — including several that were “blast-resistant.” Glass shards flew into offices, but no one inside was hurt. The attack will take weeks or months to fully repair.
Security guards at the CDC stopped White before he drove to a nearby pharmacy and continued shooting. Authorities have not said whether he was killed by police or by his own actions.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited the CDC on Monday with other officials, inspecting the damage and meeting with the widow of Officer David Rose, who was killed during the incident. Four CDC buildings were hit, with Building 21 — home to the director’s office — taking the most damage.
CDC staff have been told to work from home for now. Employees are asking for stronger security measures, including more armed guards, bulletproof glass, better alert systems, and evacuation plans for vulnerable workers.
Some former and current CDC officials say the attack shows the dangerous impact of years of false claims about vaccines. Retired CDC employee Tim Young said such rhetoric can harm mental health and “lead to violence.” Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams warned public health leaders that their words carry real consequences.
Many CDC workers are now avoiding wearing uniforms in public and being cautious when talking about their jobs. “We used to be happy to answer people’s questions,” said Yolanda Jacobs, head of a CDC workers’ union. “Now we’re afraid — we don’t know what people believe or how they might react.”
