Shooting at CDC linked to vaccine-related depression claims; labor group calls for discrediting of misinformation
In a shocking turn of events, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta was the target of a shooting incident on August 8, 2025. The shooter, identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White from Kennesaw, Georgia, opened fire outside the CDC campus, resulting in a harrowing scene.
White, armed with five guns, including at least one long gun, fired over 500 shots, shattering windows, and causing chaos. Tragically, DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, a former Marine who served in Afghanistan and had graduated from the police academy in March, lost his life in the line of duty.
The investigation into the shooting is complex and will take an extended period of time, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. However, clues are beginning to emerge about White's motivations. Documents found at his home revealed his discontent with COVID-19 vaccinations, suggesting a fixation on the pandemic response.
Nancy Hoalst, a neighbor of White, shared that White was very unsettled about vaccines and deeply believed they were harmful. This revelation, combined with the targeting of the CDC—a public health institution heavily involved in the pandemic response—suggests that White's actions were influenced by his opposition or negative views towards the COVID-19 vaccine.
The shooting left bullet marks in windows across the sprawling CDC campus, and at least four CDC buildings were hit. Thousands of people who work on critical disease research are employed on the CDC campus, and over 90 young children were locked down inside the CDC's Clifton School during the incident.
In response to the incident, the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2883, has called for perimeter security on all CDC campuses until the investigation is fully completed and shared with staff. The union also believes that staff should not be required to return to work until windows and buildings are fixed and made completely secure.
The union's statement comes as a call to action, urging federal officials to take a clear and unequivocal stance in condemning vaccine disinformation. This stance is aimed at preventing such incidents in the future and ensuring the safety of scientists and researchers who dedicate their lives to combating diseases.
This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the potential consequences of misinformation and the importance of maintaining a fact-based approach to public health issues. As the investigation continues, the CDC community and the nation at large await answers and healing.
[1] Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 9, 2025.
- The shooting at the CDC headquarters, carried out by Patrick Joseph White, who was reportedly discontent with COVID-19 vaccinations, raises questions about the potential impact of vaccine-related misinformation on mental health and general news.
- The politics of health-and-wellness, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response, have become intertwined with crime-and-justice issues, as demonstrated by the August 8, 2025, shooting at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta.
- The American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2883, has called for enhanced security at all CDC campuses, citing the shooting incident as a tragic example of the consequences that can arise from misinformation about science and public health.
