CDC shooter believed COVID vaccine made him suicidal, his father tells police

Scripps News ^ | 7:27 AM, Aug 10, 2025 | AP via Scripps News Group

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation named Patrick Joseph White as the shooter, but authorities haven't said whether he was killed by police or killed himself.

A Georgia man who opened fire on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, shooting dozens of rounds into the sprawling complex and killing a police officer, had blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Saturday.

The 30-year-old shooter also tried to get into the CDC’s headquarters in Atlanta but was stopped by guards before driving to a pharmacy across the street and opening fire late Friday afternoon, the official said. He was armed with five guns, including at least one long gun, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation.

DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was mortally wounded while responding.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., whose skepticism of vaccines has been a cornerstone of his career, voiced support for CDC employees Saturday. But some laid-off CDC employees said Kennedy shares responsibility for the violence and should resign. CDC shooter identified

CDC shooter identified

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation named Patrick Joseph White as the shooter, but authorities haven't said whether he was killed by police or killed himself.

The suspect’s father contacted police and identified his son as the possible shooter, the law enforcement official told AP. The father said his son had been upset over the death of the son’s dog, and he had also become fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the official. The family lives in Kennesaw, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb about 25 miles northwest of CDC headquarters.

A voicemail left at a phone number listed publicly for White’s family wasn’t returned Saturday.

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[Vermont Lt]

Yup…I am sure that is what made him nuts. If he is suicidal, why is he shooting anything but himself?

[GingisK]

...authorities haven't said whether he was killed by police or killed himself...

Either is acceptable.

[healy61]

Another useless man who has never been told no in his useless life. Suicide indeed. He was just mad that somewhere he was told no about something. 5 guns and several shootings.

[AppyPappy]

Probably not the real reason.

[bicyclerepair]

It’s because he had three names. /s

[iontheball]

Looking around these days, it has occurred to me that the effects of the bio-engineered toxin might explain a lot of the aberrant behavior we see taking place in society today. It’s an established fact that the concoction crosses the blood-brain barrier and is considered a neurotoxin. The long-term effects of this evil designed potion is still being uncovered.

[V_TWIN]

Has anybody seen a picture of this guy yet?

[shelterguy]

People today are introduced to drugs at an early age.
So you are in first grade and fidgit in class? Ritalin.
Oh, you are feeling sad? Prozac.
A drug for everything.

Then when they get a little older the illegal drugs flow like water.

It’s no wonder there are so many crazy people running loose.

[dragnet2]

Did the vaccinations cause the women to go cuckoo?

[Menehune56]

But none of those names was “Wayne.”

[BenLurkin]

This guy wins the prize for most the unfortunate 3-names doom: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_James_Hollywood

[frank ballenger]

Too late, though. CNN and MSNBC already pushed yesterday that the false criticisms against the harmless Covid jabs by the right pushed him into shooting.

Shameless phony “journalists”.

[ridesthemiles]

THE DOG GOT A COVID SHOT????????????

[Wally_Kalbacken]

I will go out on a limb and take “paranoid schizophrenia” for $2000, Alex.

[deport]

Damn sure gave them a huge open mouth.
Could damage several things........