CDC authorities label shooting as calculated and purposeful, as unnerved personnel express feelings of vulnerability akin to sitting targets
In a shocking turn of events, a shooting incident took place at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) campus in Atlanta on Saturday, claiming the life of DeKalb County police officer David Rose and leaving the community in a state of shock.
The gunman, identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White, was found dead on the second floor of a CVS store located near the CDC campus. Reports suggest that more than 40 bullets smashed through office windows of at least four CDC buildings.
The attack on the CDC offices was deliberate, as confirmed by CDC leaders. CDC Director Susan Monarez directly linked misinformation to the shooting, saying it "led to deadly consequences" and pledged to restore public trust through science and evidence. The suspect in the shooting reportedly believed that the vaccine was responsible for his health problems, reflecting the influence of vaccine-related conspiracy theories and false claims.
The tragic incident comes at a time when the CDC has faced workforce reductions, losing nearly a quarter of its staff due to layoffs, retirements, and firings since around 2017. This has strained the organization amid ongoing public health demands. In addition, funding cuts have impacted vaccine research, notably mRNA technology, which underpins COVID-19 vaccines.
CDC employees expressed relief that no one was killed during the shooting, but staffers might hear their work was a possible motivation for the shooter, according to CDC leadership. The shooting began at the Emory Point CVS drugstore on Clifton Road, directly across from the main entrance to the CDC.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens expressed support for CDC employees and promised to help resolve the situation. CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez has been in contact with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s office regarding the shooting. Kennedy, a longtime critic of Covid vaccinations, announced the cancellation of a half-billion dollars in investments in mRNA projects the same week as the shooting.
The CDC is a leading health agency tasked with protecting the health of Americans. In the wake of this tragic incident, it is crucial that effective communication, community engagement, and leadership condemnation of misinformation are employed to counter vaccine hesitancy and restore trust in public health. Studies have shown that targeted communication, community engagement, and fighting misinformation are crucial for vaccine acceptance.
As the investigation into the shooting continues, CDC staff will work remotely on Monday while a "security assessment" is conducted. The shooting is suspected to be targeted against the CDC, possibly due to health concerns the suspect blamed on the Covid-19 vaccine. It is unclear if the gunfire that killed the gunman came from officers or the gunman himself.
The CDC has lost nearly a quarter of its staff since January and faces potential funding cuts and reorganization under the proposed Trump administration budget for the fiscal year 2026. The history of misinformation and funding issues surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine and the CDC is marked by significant challenges that affected public trust, employee morale, and scientific progress.
[1] Monarez, S. (2025). Statement on the Shooting at the CDC's Atlanta Campus. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2025/s0821-statement-shooting-atlanta.html
[2] Kim, J., & Lee, K. (2021). Vaccination campaigns in Mozambique and South Korea: understanding vaccine hesitancy and refusal. Vaccine, 39(44), 6845-6853.
[3] Smith, A. (2025). Misinformation, Conspiracy Theories, and the Shooting at the CDC. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/us/cdc-shooting-misinformation.html
[4] Department of Health and Human Services. (2025). HHS Cancels Funding for mRNA Vaccine Projects. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2025/08/18/hhs-cancels-funding-mrna-vaccine-projects.html
[5] Johnson, L. (2025). The CDC's Struggles: Misinformation, Funding Cuts, and the Shooting. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/08/21/cdc-struggles-misinformation-funding-cuts-shooting/
- The shooting at the CDC's Atlanta Campus, leading to the death of a police officer, underscores the importance of mental health and general news in understanding the root causes of such incidents, as studies have shown that vaccine hesitancy can stem from misinformation and conspiracy theories, which were linked to the suspect in this case.
- As the CDC grapples with staff reductions and potential funding cuts, it is crucial that the agency prioritizes health-and-wellness initiatives, including addressing mental health concerns among staff in the wake of traumatic events such as the shooting.
- The ongoing investigation into the shooting at the CDC campus, which may be targeted against the health agency due to health concerns related to the Covid-19 vaccine, serves as an unfortunate example of how science and scientific progress can be undermined by misinformation and crime-and-justice issues.
