Atlanta Police Officer and Suspect Killed in Shooting Outside CDC Headquarters

On February 28, 2024, authorities identified the suspect in a deadly shooting outside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) campus in Atlanta, Georgia, as 30-year-old Li Qiang Pan. The incident occurred near Emory University and the CDC's campus in the Druid Hills area. According to police, Pan fatally shot 42-year-old DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose during a traffic stop. Officer Rose was a veteran of the DeKalb County Police Department.

The shooting sparked a large-scale emergency response, including an active shooter alert. More than 90 children remained sheltered in a nearby daycare facility while officers searched for the gunman. Pan was later located and taken into custody by law enforcement.

According to a police report, Pan's father told investigators that his son believed the COVID-19 vaccine had made him depressed and suicidal. The officer's killing has prompted concern among CDC employees, with staff expressing fears about growing public anger toward the agency's work.

The American Federation of Government Employees, representing CDC workers, called on CDC leadership to publicly address misinformation about vaccines in light of the suspect's stated beliefs. Authorities have not stated whether Pan's belief about the vaccine directly motivated the attack.

In recognition of Officer Rose's service, colleagues and community members described him as deeply committed to his duty. The investigation into the shooting and the suspect's motives remains ongoing.

On Friday, just before 5:00 p.m., a shooting occurred outside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. The incident began at the Emory Point CVS drugstore on Clifton Road, directly across from the main entrance to the CDC campus. Witnesses reported bullets striking CDC buildings, breaking windows, and passing just above office cubicles in building 24.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) identified the gunman as Patrick Joseph White, 30, of Kennesaw, Georgia. White was found dead on the second floor of the CVS store from gunfire, although authorities have not confirmed whether he shot himself or was struck by police bullets.

During the shooting, DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, a married father of two with a third child expected, was killed. Officer Rose had been on the force for less than a year and responded to the active shooter situation.

Authorities ordered Emory University, located next to the CDC, to issue an alert instructing individuals to "RUN, HIDE, FIGHT" and to shelter in place. Shell casings were found along the sidewalk outside the CDC campus.

While the official motive remains unconfirmed, law enforcement sources told CNN that the suspect may have targeted the CDC over personal health concerns he attributed to the Covid-19 vaccine. Family members reportedly told investigators that White either believed he was sick or blamed an illness on the vaccine.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

On Friday, just before 5 p.m. on Clifton Road in Atlanta, Georgia, a gunman opened fire from the Emory Point CVS drugstore, directly across from the main entrance of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters. Bullets shattered windows and flew over cubicle walls inside CDC Building 24, causing panic among employees.

Authorities identified the shooter as Patrick Joseph White, 30, from Kennesaw, a suburb of Atlanta. Law enforcement sources indicated he may have been motivated by personal health concerns he attributed to the COVID-19 vaccine, though the motive has not been officially confirmed. After speaking with the suspect’s family, police considered the possibility he believed himself to be ill due to the vaccine.

DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, a married father of two with another child on the way, was fatally shot while responding to the incident. Officer Rose, who would have marked one year on the force next month, was the first responder killed in the attack. The gunman was later found dead on the second floor of the CVS store. He had been struck by gunfire, though it is unclear whether the fatal shot came from police or from himself.

Emory University issued an emergency alert advising students and staff to "RUN, HIDE, FIGHT" and to shelter in place during the incident. Shell casings were left scattered on the sidewalk as Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agents began processing the crime scene.

The shooting, which targeted one of the nation’s top public health agencies, remains under investigation by the GBI. Officials are continuing to examine the sequence of events and the exact circumstances that led to the violence.

A shooting occurred on January 16, 2024, outside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, near Emory University. According to law enforcement sources, the suspected gunman appeared to have intentionally targeted the CDC building. The incident resulted in the deaths of both the suspect and a DeKalb County police officer.

Authorities reported that the confrontation began when officers responded to the scene near CDC offices. During the encounter, the suspect opened fire on responding officers, fatally wounding one DeKalb County police officer. The suspect was also shot and killed during the exchange of gunfire.

The area of the shooting is located on Clifton Road in Atlanta, close to both CDC headquarters and Emory University facilities. Law enforcement quickly secured the scene, and multiple agencies were involved in the response.

As of the latest updates, officials have not publicly released the names of the officer or the suspect. The motive is under investigation, although preliminary information from sources indicates the CDC building may have been the intended target.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, and further details are expected as the inquiry progresses.

A shooting incident occurred near the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters and Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Officials confirmed that a DeKalb County police officer and the suspected gunman were killed in the confrontation. Preliminary reports suggest the shooter may have been targeting the CDC headquarters.

The event began with reports of an active shooter in the vicinity of the CDC and Emory University. Police responded swiftly, and the situation escalated into an armed confrontation that ended with two fatalities—the officer and the suspect. Authorities have not released the names of the individuals involved.

Law enforcement teams secured the surrounding areas, issued public safety alerts, and cordoned off the scene. The CDC expressed being deeply disturbed by the incident, though details on the proximity of the shooting to the facility or whether any staff members were directly endangered remain unclear. An investigation is underway to determine the motives and circumstances of the attack, and officials are expected to release further information as it becomes available.