CDC Headquarters Attacked by Anti-Vaccine Proponent

A man who fired over 180 shots at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta was motivated by opposition to COVID-19 vaccines, authorities revealed. Patrick Joseph White, 30, broke into a locked gun safe to retrieve his father's weapons and expressed his discontent with vaccines in documents found at his home. White died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after killing DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose.
The attack underscores the growing risks faced by public health leaders amid anti-vaccine rhetoric. CDC Director Susan Monarez urged employees to rebuild trust and engage in "rational, evidence-based discourse" to address misinformation and violence.
White, who had no criminal history, had recently expressed suicidal thoughts, leading to law enforcement contact weeks before the attack. Authorities recovered five firearms, including one used in the attack, from his family's home in Kennesaw.
CDC security guards prevented White from entering the campus, likely sparing many lives. Over 500 shell casings were found, with bullets piercing "blast-resistant" windows and forcing employees to seek cover.
FBI Special Agent Paul Brown emphasized the seriousness of rhetoric leading to violence, while CDC safety official Jeff Williams described the attack as isolated and unrelated to broader threats.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaccine figure, toured the CDC campus after the attack but avoided addressing the link between misinformation and violence. Some CDC employees called for increased protections, citing years of false rhetoric about vaccines and public health.
The attack highlights the need for continued vigilance against misinformation and its potential consequences on public safety and trust in public health institutions.

Published: 8/12/2025