by Atlanta (AP) Patrick Joseph White, 30, of Kennesaw, Georgia, has been identified by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as the shooter at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the GBI statement, White lost his life in the incident on Friday, while DeKalb County Police Department Officer David Rose was shot and killed.
From across the street, the shooter began fire on the CDC offices, hitting windows around the expansive complex, fatally injuring the officer and leaving bullet shells on the pavement outside a CVS pharmacy. One of the most well-known public health facilities in the country saw a significant police response as a result of the attack.
In a post on X, Director Susan Monarez stated that at least four CDC facilities were damaged. Employee-shared photos of many agency buildings with bullet-pocked windows highlighted the extent of the devastation to a location where thousands of staff members and scientists conduct vital disease research.
Due to an apparent bullet hole in its front door, the CVS was still shuttered on Saturday morning. Outside the building was a single bouquet.
Not mentioning White Andre Dickens, the mayor of Atlanta, said Friday night that he was a well-known individual who might be interested in certain things.
“At this time, we do not know whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted,” Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum stated Friday after the gunman passed away at the scene.
According to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the current investigation, the gunman was carrying a long gun, and officials found three additional firearms at the site.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens stated on Friday that the motive of the shooter is still unknown at this early stage of the investigation.
On Saturday morning, a voicemail left at a number that is on file for White was not immediately answered.
According to a statement from DeKalb County, Rose, 33, was a former Marine who served in Afghanistan. He graduated from the police academy in March and immediately gained the admiration of his peers for his commitment, bravery, and professionalism.
There’s a wife tonight who has no husband. Three children, one of whom is unborn and fatherless, Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, CEO of DeKalb County, stated.
The GBI, which is in charge of the inquiry, stated on Saturday that it might take some time to figure out what transpired.
The agency stated in their statement that because of the complexity of the scene, there is a lot of evidence to gather. There are a lot of interviews being done. It will take a long time to complete this study.
