Latest news with #PatrickJosephWhite
Yomiuri Shimbun
4 hours ago
- Health
- Yomiuri Shimbun
CDC Shooter Blamed COVID Vaccine for Depression; Union Demands Statement against Misinformation
A Georgia man who had blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal has been identified as the shooter who opened fire late Friday on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, killing a police officer. The 30-year-old suspect, who died during the incident, had also tried to get into the CDC's headquarters in Atlanta but was stopped by guards before driving to a pharmacy across the street and opening fire, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Saturday. The man, identified as Patrick Joseph White, was armed with five guns, including at least one long gun, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation. A union representing workers at the CDC said the incident was not random and 'compounds months of mistreatment, neglect, and vilification that CDC staff have endured.' It demanded federal officials condemn vaccine misinformation, saying it was putting scientists at risk. Here's what to know about the shooting and the continuing investigation: An attack on a prominent public health institution Police say White opened fire outside the CDC headquarters in Atlanta on Friday, leaving bullet marks in windows across the sprawling campus. At least four CDC buildings were hit, Director Susan Monarez said on X. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was mortally wounded while responding. Rose, 33, a former Marine who served in Afghanistan, had graduated from the police academy in March. White was found on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDC campus and died at the scene, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said. He added that 'we do not know at this time whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted.' The Georgia Bureau of Investigations said the crime scene was 'complex' and the investigation would take 'an extended period of time.' CDC union calls for condemnation of vaccine misinformation and tighter security The American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2883, said the CDC and leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services must provide a 'clear and unequivocal stance in condemning vaccine disinformation.' Such a public statement by federal officials is needed to help prevent violence against scientists, the union said in a news release. 'Their leadership is critical in reinforcing public trust and ensuring that accurate, science-based information prevails,' the union said. Fired But Fighting, a group of laid-off CDC employees, has said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is directly responsible for the villainization of CDC's workforce through 'his continuous lies about science and vaccine safety, which have fueled a climate of hostility and mistrust.' Kennedy reached out to staff on Saturday, saying 'no one should face violence while working to protect the health of others.' Thousands of people who work on critical disease research are employed on the campus. The union said some staff were huddled in various buildings until late at night, including more than 90 young children who were locked down inside the CDC's Clifton School. The union said CDC staff should not be required to immediately return to work after experiencing such a traumatic event. In a statement released Saturday, it said windows and buildings should first be fixed and made 'completely secure.' 'Staff should not be required to work next to bullet holes,' the union said. 'Forcing a return under these conditions risks re-traumatizing staff by exposing them to the reminders of the horrific shooting they endured.' The union also called for 'perimeter security on all campuses' until the investigation is fully completed and shared with staff. Shooter had fixation on COVID-19 vaccine White's father, who contacted police and identified his son as the possible shooter, said White had been upset over the death of his dog and also had become fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the law enforcement official. A neighbor of White told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that White 'seemed like a good guy' but spoke with her multiple times about his distrust of COVID-19 vaccines in unrelated conversations. 'He was very unsettled, and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people,' Nancy Hoalst, told the Atlanta newspaper. 'He emphatically believed that.' But Hoalst said she never believed White would be violent: 'I had no idea he thought he would take it out on the CDC.'
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Terrifying details of CDC shooting reveal tragedy could have been much worse as agency slams 'misinformation'
The gunman who opened fire on the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta attempted to enter the headquarters before guards stopped him, authorities revealed on Sunday. Patrick Joseph White, 30, was carrying five guns, including at least one long gun, when he was denied entry and forced to drive across the street to a CVS, where he began his shooting rampage. He wrecked havoc outside the CDC headquarters, striking at least four buildings of the facility's campus and leaving workers and nearby Emory University students terrified for their lives. While responding to the scene as bullets rang and shattered windows, DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, 33, was shot and killed by the culprit. White was later confirmed dead amid the gunfire. No civilians were injured by his rampage, although workers and 92 children at the campus daycare were locked down until the late night. A union representing CDC workers, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) said the incident was not random and 'compounds months of mistreatment, neglect, and vilification that CDC staff have endured.' It demanded federal officials condemn vaccine misinformation, saying it was putting scientists at risk. This statement comes after it was revealed the shooter was an anti-vaxxer who blamed a recent illness on the COVID-19 vaccine, which was promoted by the CDC. He claimed the vaccine made him feel suicidal and depressed, the Associated Press reported. White's father sounded the alarm to police that his son was the possible shooter. He said White was upset over the death of his dog and had become fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the law enforcement official. White's neighbor told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the shooter told her on several occasions that he distrusted the vaccines. 'He was very unsettled, and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people,' Nancy Hoalst, told the Atlanta outlet. 'He emphatically believed that.' But Hoalst said she never believed White would be violent. White was found on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDC campus and died at the scene, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said. He added that is was unclear if White turned the gun on himself or if an officer had shot him. But due to the complexity of the crime scene, the investigation is expected to take an 'extended period of time,' according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. Meanwhile, the AFGE has asserted the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must provide a 'clear and unequivocal stance in condemning vaccine disinformation.' Fired But Fighting, a group of laid-off CDC employees, has said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is directly responsible for the villainization of CDC´s workforce. They claimed he has lied about vaccine safety and fueled a 'climate of hostility and mistrust.' Kennedy reached out to staff on Saturday, saying 'no one should face violence while working to protect the health of others.' The union has argued that until all the windows are repaired and the site is totally secured, staffers should not be mandated to immediately return for work. It also called for 'perimeter security on all campuses until the investigation is over and reviewed by the CDC. Rose, who lost his life during the gut-wrenching attack, had just joined the police force in September. The CVS was also shot at, as the shooter started firing from there after guards denied him entry to the headquarters He leaves behind a pregnant wife and two children. '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.'
Axios
8 hours ago
- Health
- Axios
CDC union demands Trump officials condemn disinformation after shooting
A union representing Centers for Disease Control workers is calling on the Trump administration to condemn vaccine disinformation after the CDC headquarters was targeted in a shooting that killed a police officer in Atlanta, Georgia. The big picture: The suspect, named as Patrick Joseph White, 30, of Kennesaw, Ga., who died during Friday's shooting had reportedly blamed the COVID vaccine for his health issues. The local American Federation of Government Employees division of the union said the incident "is not random and it compounds months of mistreatment, neglect, and vilification that CDC staff have endured." Zoom in: The AFGE Local 2883 said in its media statement there must be "clear and unequivocal stance in condemning vaccine disinformation" by the leadership of the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services, which is led by vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "Their leadership is critical in reinforcing public trust and ensuring that accurate, science-based information prevails. This condemnation is necessary to help prevent violence against scientists that may be incited by such disinformation," per the statement. "The deliberate targeting of CDC through this violent act is deeply disturbing, completely unacceptable, and an attack on every public servant," the union said. "It was motivated by vaccine disinformation, which continues to pose a dangerous threat to public health and safety." What they're saying: CDC Director Susan Monarez said on X Friday she was "heartbroken" over the attack that saw a gunman open fire on "at least four" CDC buildings. Kennedy said on X Saturday, "No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others. He added: "We are actively supporting CDC staff on the ground and across the agency. Public health workers show up every day with purpose — even in moments of grief and uncertainty."
American Press
10 hours ago
- Health
- American Press
CDC shooter believed Covid vaccine made him suicidal
A Georgia man who had blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal has been identified as the shooter who opened fire late Friday on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, killing a police officer. The 30-year-old suspect, who died during the incident, had also tried to get into the CDC's headquarters in Atlanta but was stopped by guards before driving to a pharmacy across the street and opening fire, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Saturday. The man, identified as Patrick Joseph White, was armed with five guns, including at least one long gun, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation. A union representing workers at the CDC said the incident was not random and 'compounds months of mistreatment, neglect, and vilification that CDC staff have endured.' It demanded federal officials condemn vaccine misinformation, saying it was putting scientists at risk. Here's what to know about the shooting and the continuing investigation: An attack on a prominent public health institution Police say White opened fire outside the CDC headquarters in Atlanta on Friday, leaving bullet marks in windows across the sprawling campus. At least four CDC buildings were hit, Director Susan Monarez said on X. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was mortally wounded while responding. Rose, 33, a former Marine who served in Afghanistan, had graduated from the police academy in March. White was found on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDC campus and died at the scene, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said. He added that 'we do not know at this time whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted.' The Georgia Bureau of Investigations said the crime scene was 'complex' and the investigation would take 'an extended period of time.' CDC union calls for condemnation of vaccine misinformation and tighter security The American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2883, said the CDC and leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services must provide a 'clear and unequivocal stance in condemning vaccine disinformation.' Such a public statement by federal officials is needed to help prevent violence against scientists, the union said in a news release. 'Their leadership is critical in reinforcing public trust and ensuring that accurate, science-based information prevails,' the union said. Fired But Fighting, a group of laid-off CDC employees, has said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is directly responsible for the villainization of CDC's workforce through 'his continuous lies about science and vaccine safety, which have fueled a climate of hostility and mistrust.' Kennedy reached out to staff on Saturday, saying 'no one should face violence while working to protect the health of others.' Thousands of people who work on critical disease research are employed on the campus. The union said some staff were huddled in various buildings until late at night, including more than 90 young children who were locked down inside the CDC's Clifton School. The union said CDC staff should not be required to immediately return to work after experiencing such a traumatic event. In a statement released Saturday, it said windows and buildings should first be fixed and made 'completely secure.' 'Staff should not be required to work next to bullet holes,' the union said. 'Forcing a return under these conditions risks re-traumatizing staff by exposing them to the reminders of the horrific shooting they endured.' The union also called for 'perimeter security on all campuses' until the investigation is fully completed and shared with staff.
The Guardian
12 hours ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Atlanta CDC gunman believed Covid vaccine made him suicidal, official says
A Georgia man who opened fire on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta on Friday, shooting dozens of rounds into four buildings and killing a police officer, had blamed a Covid-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press on 30-year-old gunman, identified by the Georgia bureau of investigation as Patrick Joseph White, tried to get into the CDC's headquarters but was stopped by guards before driving to a CVS across the street and opening fire, the official said. White died during Friday's violence. The suspect's father contacted police and said his son was upset about the death of his dog, and had also become fixated on the Covid-19 vaccine, an official said. One of White's neighbors told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 'He very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people.' The police officer who was shot to death in a confrontation with a gunman was identified as 33-year-old David Rose – a husband and father of two daughters who had a son on the way. Rose, who joined the DeKalb county police force in September of last year and previously served in the US marines, had responded to reports of gunfire near the CDC campus. He was later rushed to the Emory University hospital, where he died of his injuries. After firing shots at the CDC campus near Emory University on Friday afternoon, White was found dead on the second floor of the pharmacy building. Authorities have not said if he was killed by police or took his own life. He was reported to be wearing a surgical mask and was armed with two handguns, a rifle and a shotgun, and he was carrying two backpacks filled with ammo, officials told CNN. The CDC director, Susan Monarez, confirmed that at least four buildings at the public health agency had been struck in the shooting, which began shortly before 5pm on Friday. 'The active shooter incident near our campus today has understandably brought fear, anger and worry to all of us,' Monarez said in a message to CDC employees. 'I want to express my deep appreciation for your professionalism and resilience during this time.' 'We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDC's Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose. We stand with his wife and three children and the entire CDC family,' the US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, posted online on Saturday. But those words of sympathy from Kennedy, an avowed skeptic of vaccine safety, were rejected by a group of former CDC scientists, communicators, policy analysts and public health experts who were laid off by the Trump administration. 'Kennedy is directly responsible for the villainization of CDC's workforce through his continuous lies about science and vaccine safety, which have fueled a climate of hostility and mistrust,' Fired but Fighting, a group of former CDC employees who were laid off, said in a statement. 'We don't need thoughts and prayers. We need an administration that does not villainize federal workers who are just trying to do their job. We need a HHS Secretary who does not promote misinformation about science and vaccines.' Kennedy recently ordered the cutting of the budget for mRNA vaccine development. He said in a statement that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (Barda) would terminate 22 mRNA vaccine development investments, suggesting the vaccines 'fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like Covid and flu'. Critics said the decision was not grounded in science and pointed to evidence that the covid vaccines had saved millions of lives. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Atlanta-headquartered CNN reported that White's father alerted law enforcement before the shooting that he believed his son was suicidal. Cody Alcorn with Atlanta's 11 Alive reported that one of White's neighbors said he was against vaccines and had looked 'noticeably' slimmer recently. Another neighbor described White as 'pleasant' and said he never talked politics 'but was against the vaccine'. The outlet also reported that crime scene investigators found more than 40 bullet holes in multiple CDC buildings after Friday's attack. Building 21, where the CDC director has her office, took much of the gunfire. The Atlanta police chief, Darin Schierbaum, said the department had received a call about an active shooter at about 4.50pm and arrived at the scene to find Rose critically injured. DeKalb county's interim police chief, Greg Padrick, said Rose 'was committed to serving the community' and requested prayers for 'his family, his friends, his loved ones and the entire DeKalb county police department family'. The director of the FBI, Kash Patel, said Rose was a hero who 'made the ultimate sacrifice'. 'Pray for the family, friends, and colleagues of this hero who acted quickly to defend others and made the ultimate sacrifice,' Patel said in a post on X. The attack came as threats of violence against healthcare professionals in the US are on the rise. A survey by National Nurses United, the largest union of registered nurses in the US, found that 48% of the more than 2,000 responding nurses reported an increase in workplace violence. In December, UnitedHealthcare chief executive officer Brian Thompson was shot dead on a Manhattan street. Suspect Luigi Mangione, who is awaiting trial in the case, left a trail of indicators that he may have been motivated by anger toward the health insurance industry. Associated Press contributed reporting
