Who is behind deadly shooting of Georgia police officer near CDC headquarters?
The Dekalb County Police Department identified David Rose as the officer killed in a shooting outside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) campus in Atlanta on Friday. (DeKalb County Police Department)
Authorities have identified the man accused of fatally shooting a police officer outside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw, Georgia.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), White is suspected of killing Officer David Rose, 33, of the DeKalb County Police Department, during a violent confrontation shortly before 5 p.m. on Friday.
Investigators say the shooting began in front of the CDC campus, where White allegedly unleashed a barrage of gunfire, striking multiple windows across at least four agency buildings. CDC Deputy Director Susan Monarez confirmed the damage in a post on X, noting the danger posed to thousands of employees engaged in critical public health research. Photos from staff members showed shattered glass and bullet holes marking the facility.
UPDATE – 8/9/2025:
Patrick Joseph White, age 30, of Kennesaw, GA is the suspected shooter in the incident that occurred on Clifton Rd. near the Emory University campus. pic.twitter.com/PTJKne67Cw
— GA Bureau of Investigation (@GBI_GA) August 9, 2025
Responding officers discovered Officer Rose critically injured. As they worked to secure the area, more shots rang out from a nearby CVS pharmacy. Rose was rushed to Emory University Hospital on Clifton Road, where he later died from his wounds.
Police entered the pharmacy and found White on the second floor with at least one gunshot injury. It remains unclear whether he was struck by police return fire or if his wound was self-inflicted, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said.
The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, speaking before the suspect’s identity was released, described the shooter as “a known person” with possible particular interests, though he offered no further details.
The incident unfolded near the Emory University campus on Clifton Road, a location that also houses a daycare center with more than 90 children. None of the children or staff were harmed.
Here’s our preliminary statement on the officer involved shooting in DeKalb County, GA. The Atlanta Police Department and the Emory University Police Department asked the GBI to conduct an independent investigation.
🔗: https://t.co/CV1dWdjz19 pic.twitter.com/i4mNFo9D4J
— GA Bureau of Investigation (@GBI_GA) August 9, 2025
The GBI is now leading the case, with the FBI’s Atlanta office assisting. Investigators are gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses, a process the GBI has warned will take considerable time.
Officer Rose joined the DeKalb County Police Department in September 2024, graduating from the police academy in March. A former U.S. Marine who served in Afghanistan, Rose quickly earned respect for his dedication and professionalism. He is survived by his pregnant wife and two children.
Interim Police Chief Greg Padrick called Rose a committed public servant, urging the community to keep his family and colleagues in their prayers.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also paid tribute, calling Rose’s death a tragic loss and assuring that his service “will not be forgotten by a grateful state.”
