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First look at accused shooter Patrick Joseph White
We are getting our first look at Patrick Joseph White, the man accused of shooting more than 150 rounds at four buildings on the main campus of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Investigators say at least 500 rounds have been found. Those shots were fired from Emory Pointe and claimed the life of a responding DeKalb County police officer, David Rose.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation revealed new details during a press conference on Tuesday morning about the shooting last Friday at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's headquarters in Atlanta.
What they're saying:
GBI Director Chris Hosey confirmed that 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White had no known criminal history but had recently expressed suicidal thoughts, leading to police contact several weeks before the shooting.
Patrick Joseph White. Courtesy of GBI
The GBI says 500 shots were fired and about 200 rounds struck six CDC buildings, though no employees were hurt. Written documents expressing White's distrust of COVID-19 vaccines, which investigators described as a personal statement rather than a direct threat, were discovered during the investigation.
Authorities say White broke into a safe at his family’s home to access firearms — a mix of rifles, a shotgun and possibly a handgun — that belonged to his father. Most of the shell casings recovered came from a long gun. White reportedly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The GBI confirmed DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was shot and killed while responding to the incident. "He served with honor, courage, and unwavering dedication," Hosey said. "His sacrifice will never be forgotten."
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GBI reveals new details about CDC shooting suspect
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation revealed new details during a Tuesday morning press conference about the suspect in the CDC shooting last week. FOX 5 Atlanta has also obtained a 911 call made by the suspect's father after the shooting.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown said federal SWAT teams cleared the CDC campus room by room after the shooting to ensure no victims were inside. A nearby daycare was evacuated, and all children were safely reunited with their families.
Five firearms, electronic devices, and video evidence have been recovered so far. The FBI and GBI are asking anyone with additional footage or information to contact the tip line at 1-800-597-TIPS or use the "See Something, Send Something" app.
Officials also said they have not seen an increase in threats against the CDC since the shooting but remain in close contact with CDC security to share any intelligence.
Hosey and Brown were joined by Interim Police Chief Gregory Padrick from DeKalb County Police Department; Assistant Chief Carven Tyus from Atlanta Police Department; Chief Burt Buchtinec from Emory University Police Department and others.
WATCH FULL PRESS CONFERENCE
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FULL VIDEO: GBI, FBI gives update about CDC shooting
The GBI and FBI held a press conference on Tuesday morning to provide an update on investigation into CDC shooting.
Dig deeper:
FOX 5 Atlanta also obtained a 911 call made by Patrick White's father to Cobb County. In the call, White's father tells the 911 dispatcher that he is afraid that his son may have been involved in the shooting. He also says that he had called DeKalb's 911 number three times and left detailed messages, but no one had called him back He finally reached out to Cobb in hopes of speaking to a detective who had helped the family previously.
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AUDIO: 911 call from CDC suspect's father
Cobb County Police Department have released the 911 call made by the father of the alleged CDC shooter Patrick Joseph White. His father says he had tried calling DeKalb's 911 three times before he called Cobb and tried to reach a detective who had helped the family previously.
Records from Cobb County 911 show that White's address was mentioned in 11 different calls between June 2024 and the day of the shooting:
- One was the call about him possibly being the shooter.
- Three were medical calls for ambulances only.
- Three were related to White being suicidal.
- Two were for admin details, which FOX 5 has asked for clarification on.
- One call was for a theft and was responded to by the sheriff's office.
- One was for a domestic disturbance.
What we know:
DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was killed when he responded to reports of an active shooter at the CDC shortly before 5 p.m. Aug. 8.
Authorities later identified the accused shooter as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw, who blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal. White died during the incident, though officials have not said whether he was killed by police or took his own life.
The attack left the CDC campus scarred and staff shaken, prompting calls from the agency’s union for stronger security measures.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited CDC's Roybal campus on Monday. He also reportedly visited the wife of DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, who was killed when he responded to reports of the shooting.
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