Patrick Joseph White Launches Deadly Attack on CDC Headquarters
Patrick Joseph White attacked CDC headquarters, firing over 180 shots, killing a police officer and himself. He blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for his actions.
Man fired 180 shots, shattering 150 windows, in CDC attack
Chicago Tribune
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Overview
- Patrick Joseph White launched a violent assault on CDC headquarters, firing over 180 shots and shattering 150 windows across at least four buildings in a destructive rampage.
- The attack tragically resulted in the death of a police officer, while the 30-year-old shooter, Patrick Joseph White, also died, with authorities still investigating the cause of his demise.
- White reportedly cited the COVID-19 vaccine as the reason for his destructive actions, claiming it caused his depression and suicidal thoughts, leading to the violent incident.
- CDC security guards successfully intervened, stopping the shooter before he could reach a nearby pharmacy, and employees were subsequently advised to work from home for safety.
- Officials like Kennedy and Dr. Jerome Adams condemned the violence, and a retired CDC official expressed concern about the attack's potential long-term impact on government recruitment efforts.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by consistently linking the shooter's actions to his alleged anger at COVID-19 vaccines. They emphasize the broader societal impact of "false rhetoric" about vaccines, suggesting a causal connection between misinformation and violence. This framing is achieved through selective expert commentary and the characterization of figures associated with vaccine skepticism.
"The gunman had also "verbalised thoughts of suicide" before the shooting, Hosey said, adding that investigators had uncovered written evidence of his discontent with Covid-19 vaccines."
BBC News"The man who attacked the CDC headquarters in Atlanta on Friday fired more than 180 shots into the campus and broke about 150 windows, with bullets piercing “blast-resistant” windows and spattering glass shards into numerous rooms."
ABC News"The man who attacked the CDC headquarters in Atlanta on Friday fired more than 180 shots into the campus and broke about 150 windows, with bullets piercing “blast-resistant” windows and spattering glass shards into numerous rooms."
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FAQ
Patrick Joseph White was a 30-year-old man from Georgia who launched a shooting attack on the CDC headquarters. He blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for causing his depression and suicidal thoughts, which he cited as the motivation for his violent actions.
The attack resulted in the death of DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose and the attacker Patrick Joseph White. The shooter fired more than 180 rounds, shattering about 150 windows and damaging at least four CDC buildings. No other employees were reported injured.
CDC security guards intervened and stopped the shooter before he could reach a nearby pharmacy. Law enforcement responded with a massive effort; the shooter died at the scene on the second floor of a building across the street. Investigations are ongoing regarding whether the shooter was killed by officers or by suicide.
Officials such as CDC Director Susan Monarez and Dr. Jerome Adams condemned the violence. The CDC workers' union called for condemnation of vaccine misinformation, linking it to the attack, and expressed concerns about staff safety and the potential impact on government recruitment efforts.
The shooter fired over 180 rounds, with some reports stating nearly 500 rounds were recovered from the CDC campus. The gunfire shattered approximately 150 windows across at least four buildings, including blast-resistant glass.
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