U.S. public health institute shooting incident details from last Friday
In a shocking turn of events, a shooting incident at the Emory Atlanta Campus left one person dead and the campus in a state of fear and lockdown. The gunman, identified as Patrick Joseph White, opened fire at the Emory Point CVS drugstore, specifically targeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) building adjacent to the store.
Casey Cooksey, an employee of Emory University's IT Department, described the scene as "total fear for everybody." He heard "lots of gunfire" and immediately sought safety. Kristin Coles, a mother with a one-and-a-half-year-old son at a day care center across the CVS, was anxious about her child's safety. She drove as far as she could before being stopped by police and walked about a mile to get closer.
Tragically, the first responder, DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, was killed during the shooting. Officer Rose was a married father of two, with another child on the way. His loss has left a void in the community.
The gunman was armed with two handguns, a rifle, a shotgun, and two backpacks filled with ammunition. He was wearing a surgical mask during the shooting. The shooting caused a tense lockdown for residents, students, and parents in the area. Roads near the Emory Point CVS were like a ghost town, and police stopped vehicles from driving closer.
The alleged motive behind the shooting was White's conviction that the COVID-19 vaccine had harmed his health and mind. He believed the vaccine made him sick and mentally unwell, which fueled his anger and fixation, leading to the targeted attack. Neighbors and his father reported that White had expressed anti-vaccine conspiracy views and believed the vaccine had caused him severe mental health problems, including depression and suicidal thoughts.
The CDC employees were in their offices when the shooting occurred. The shooting caused anxiety and fear among people on the campus. Randy Gold and his father, who were leaving Emory Hospital, encountered doctors, nurses, and valet parkers running towards them, screaming about an active shooter. People on the campus went into sheltering mode, seeking information from CNN about the incident.
In response to the incident, CDC Director Susan Monarez informed CDC staff that they will work remotely on Monday while a "security assessment" is conducted. The shooting has raised concerns and calls for condemnation to prevent violence incited by such disinformation.
It's important to note that the CDC has had a tough year, with uncertainty around staff employment following massive workforce cuts at federal health agencies. Additionally, the Trump administration's proposed budget for the fiscal year 2026 would slash the CDC's funding by more than half, and the agency would lose additional programs under a proposed reorganization.
Despite the tragic incident, Atlanta Mayor Dickens confirmed that the 92 children in a day care on the CDC campus were all safe. The shooting happened just before 5 p.m. on Friday. As the investigation continues, the Emory Atlanta Campus community hopes for peace and healing.
[1] CNN [2] ABC News [3] NBC News [4] The Guardian [5] CBS News
- The shooting at Emory Atlanta Campus, perpetrated by Patrick Joseph White, highlighted the intersection of health-and-wellness issues, politics, and general news, as it appears White believed the COVID-19 vaccine had negatively affected his mental health.
- In the aftermath of the shooting, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) faced renewed scrutiny about the impact of various medical-conditions, including mental health, on individuals due to the gunman's reported anti-vaccine beliefs and mental health struggles.
- The tragic event at Emory Atlanta Campus underscored the importance of addressing crime-and-justice issues, as the shooting resulted in loss of life, instilled fear among residents, and led to a lockdown of the area.
- The shooting raised questions about the role of science in policy-making and public discourse, as some speculate that alleged misinformation about vaccines can have dire consequences, such as targeted attacks on research facilities like the CDC.
