Police officer killed in firefight with CDC gunman was dad of two with a third on the way

Daily Mail​

14 hours ago

A police officer slain by a gunman targeting the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta Friday was expecting his third child.
David Rose, 33, leaves behind two children and a pregnant wife and had only joined the Dekalb County Police Department in September.
Rose succumbed to his injuries in hospital after being shot during a firefight with the gunman, who was firing wildly at CDC buildings near Emory University.
Heavy police response: Officers set up a blockade of a road near the CDC, where several buildings took fire
'This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father,' DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said during a press conference.
'There is a mother and a father, as well as siblings who also share in this traumatic loss. Let's join together to give this family the support it needs.'
The officer was suffering from critical injuries when he was located at the scene as gunfire erupted from the CVS located at Emory Point, a mixed-used development across the street from the CDC headquarters.
The shooter was located on the floor above the CVS and died during a firefight with police. It wasn't immediately clear if his injuries were from officers or if they were self-inflicted.
He was identified Saturday by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White from Kennesaw, Georgia.
'There is extensive evidence to collect due to the complex scene,' a statement from the bureau noted. 'Numerous interviews are being conducted. This investigation will take an extended period of time.'
CNN reported that the shooter's family members spoke to law enforcement and told them that he blamed his recent illness on the Covid-19 vaccine, which was pushed by the CDC.
CDC Director Susan Monarez, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp recognized Rose's death as a brave sacrifice.
In a statement, Dekalb County said that Rose was a former Marine who served in Afghanistan.
Police said he graduated from the police academy in March and 'quickly earned the respect of his colleagues for his dedication, courage and professionalism.'
'This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father,' DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said.
The shooter is believed to have been targeting the CDC, not nearby Emory University.
Emory University students began hearing gunshots late Friday afternoon. Eventually, the university sent out a desperate alert at around 4:50pm pleading with students to 'RUN. HIDE. FIGHT.'
A little over two hours after the alert was sent out, Atlanta Police confirmed the shooter was dead.
'There is no ongoing threat to the Emory Campus or the surrounding neighborhood. The incident involved a single shooter, who is now deceased,' Atlanta Police said in a statement.
No civilians were shot throughout the course of the attack, said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.
The shooting ended at the CVS, but bullets from the shooter's gun hit at least four buildings that are part of the CDC's headquarters.
A photo shared to social media showed at least two bullet holes in two separate windows.
A CDC employee told CNN that he saw a man approach the steps in front of the building, pull out a rifle and open fire.
Law enforcement officials said the shooter had four different weapons — two hand guns, one rifle and one shotgun — and was wearing what looked to be a surgical mask.
The CDC ultimately wasn't breached. At around 10pm ET, the CDC gave its employees the all-clear order via text message.
'Local law enforcement continues to clear Roybal Campus buildings but has determined that there is no longer a threat to CDC staff,' the text message read.
Roughly 92 children were at the employee daycare at the CDC campus, which had parents panicking since they weren't allowed to immediately go pick them up because of shelter-in-place orders.
When the all-clear order was given roughly five hours after the shooting began, that's when the children were finally reunited with their parents.