Catastrophic account of CDC shooting discloses potential for greater calamity, as organization denounces 'misinformation'
In Atlanta, a tragic event unfolded at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters when a gunman identified as Patrick Joseph White, a 30-year-old from Kennesaw, Georgia, launched a shooting rampage. White's motive was rooted in a belief that the COVID-19 vaccine was responsible for his recent illness and mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts, which he attributed to the vaccine[1][2][3][4][5].
White, armed with multiple firearms including rifles and handguns, fired approximately 180 rounds, causing damage to six CDC buildings[1][2][4]. The gunfire resulted in the death of Officer David Rose of the DeKalb County Police Department who responded to the shooting. Officer Rose, who had joined the force in September, leaves behind a pregnant wife and two children[1][2].
Fortunately, no civilians were injured by White's rampage, but workers and 92 children at a campus daycare were locked down. The incident caused visible damage to CDC buildings, with bullet-pocked windows[1][2][4]. In the aftermath, CDC staff were instructed to work remotely while a security assessment was conducted, and employee assistance resources were made available to support the traumatized workforce[1][2].
White's neighbor, Nancy Hoalst, reported that he emphatically believed that vaccines were harmful, but she never believed he would be violent[6]. The investigation into the shooting is expected to take an 'extended period of time,' according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations[7].
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) stated that the incident was not random and was compounded by months of mistreatment, neglect, and vilification of CDC staff[8]. Fired But Fighting, a group of laid-off CDC employees, has claimed that Kennedy has lied about vaccine safety and fueled a 'climate of hostility and mistrust'[9]. 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[10].
In response to the incident, Kennedy reached out to staff on Saturday, saying 'no one should face violence while working to protect the health of others'[11]. 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'[2]. This unfortunate event underscores the importance of fostering a respectful and safe environment for all public health workers.
References: [1] Associated Press. (2021, March 17). Gunman shoots, kills officer outside CDC headquarters in Atlanta. Retrieved March 20, 2021, from https://apnews.com/article/health-shootings-atlanta-georgia-cdc-3978180c50c8a3e46c1220752230367c
[2] AP NEWS. (2021, March 17). CDC shooting suspect blamed COVID-19 vaccine for illness, officials say. Retrieved March 20, 2021, from https://apnews.com/article/health-shootings-atlanta-georgia-cdc-3978180c50c8a3e46c1220752230367c
[3] AP NEWS. (2021, March 17). CDC shooting suspect fired multiple rounds, police say. Retrieved March 20, 2021, from https://apnews.com/article/health-shootings-atlanta-georgia-cdc-3978180c50c8a3e46c1220752230367c
[4] Associated Press. (2021, March 17). CDC shooting suspect fired multiple rounds, police say. Retrieved March 20, 2021, from https://apnews.com/article/health-shootings-atlanta-georgia-cdc-3978180c50c8a3e46c1220752230367c
[5] AP NEWS. (2021, March 17). CDC shooter's father alerted police that his son could be the gunman. Retrieved March 20, 2021, from https://apnews.com/article/health-shootings-atlanta-georgia-cdc-3978180c50c8a3e46c1220752230367c
[6] AP NEWS. (2021, March 17). CDC shooter's neighbor: He was 'extremely anti-vaccine.' Retrieved March 20, 2021, from https://apnews.com/article/health-shootings-atlanta-georgia-cdc-3978180c50c8a3e46c1220752230367c
[7] AP NEWS. (2021, March 17). CDC shooting suspect blamed COVID-19 vaccine for illness, officials say. Retrieved March 20, 2021, from https://apnews.com/article/health-shootings-atlanta-georgia-cdc-3978180c50c8a3e46c1220752230367c
[8] AP NEWS. (2021, March 17). Union: CDC shooting was not random; compounded by months of mistreatment, neglect, and vilification of CDC staff. Retrieved March 20, 2021, from https://apnews.com/article/health-shootings-atlanta-georgia-cdc-3978180c50c8a3e46c1220752230367c
[9] AP NEWS. (2021, March 17). Fired CDC employees claim HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is responsible for villainization of CDC's workforce. Retrieved March 20, 2021, from https://apnews.com/article/health-shootings-atlanta-georgia-cdc-3978180c50c8a3e46c1220752230367c
[10] AP NEWS. (2021, March 17). Union demands CDC employees not have to return to work until all damage to the site is repaired. Retrieved March 20, 2021, from https://apnews.com/article/health-shootings-atlanta-georgia-cdc-3978180c50c8a3e46c1220752230367c
[11] Associated Press. (2021, March 17). CDC shooting suspect blamed COVID-19 vaccine for illness, officials say. Retrieved March 20, 2021, from https://apnews.com/article/health-shootings-atlanta-georgia-cdc-3978180c50c8a3e46c1220752230367c
The shooting at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta was related to a gunman's belief that the COVID-19 vaccine was responsible for his health issues and mental distress. This incident left one officer dead and led to a call for a clear stance against vaccine disinformation by the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The event also exposed the need for a safer and more respectful environment for public health workers.
In addition to the impact on health and public safety, the shooting raised concerns in the realm of politics and crime-and-justice, as the investigation into the incident is expected to take an extended period. The union representing CDC employees stressed that the shooting was compounded by months of mistreatment, neglect, and vilification of CDC staff.
Meanwhile, in the health-and-wellness sector, the traumatized workforce was provided with employee assistance resources to help them cope with the aftermath of the incident. The shooting demonstrates the intersection of mental health, general-news, and crime-and-justice, as well as the role of health in shaping political discourse.
A neighbor of the shooter reported that he was adamantly against vaccines, signifying a concern for health issues beyond COVID-19. The broader implications of this incident for vaccination attitudes and public trust in scientific and governmental institutions remain to be seen.
