Gunman who targeted CDC headquarters allegedly claimed vaccine caused suicide ideation, as stated by his father
A tragic incident unfolded late Friday afternoon at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
Patrick Joseph White, a local resident, drove to the CDC campus and opened fire, armed with five guns, including at least one long gun. According to an anonymous law enforcement official, White drove across the street to a pharmacy and continued his rampage there.
The shooting resulted in the death of a police officer, and it is not yet clear whether White was killed by police or took his own life. The authorities have confirmed that White had a history of blaming COVID-19 vaccines for his mental health problems, including depression. He reportedly told his neighbours that he believed the vaccine caused him to experience depression, which motivated his attack on the CDC campus.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jnr voiced support for CDC employees in the aftermath of the shooting. However, some laid-off CDC employees believe Kennedy shares responsibility for the violence and have called for his resignation.
The shooter was stopped by guards before he could enter the CDC's headquarters, but he used dozens of rounds during the shooting. The exact number of casualties beyond the police officer killed is not yet known.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals who hold harmful beliefs and the importance of addressing mental health issues in our society. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those affected by this tragedy.
[1] Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Shooter who targeted CDC campus in Atlanta had history of blaming COVID-19 vaccines for mental health problems, neighbours say", 2023-04-01.
- The shooting at the CDC headquarters exposed the potential dangers of unfounded health beliefs, such as the link between COVID-19 vaccines and mental health problems, which the shooter reportedly subscribed to.
- As the crisis at the CDC headquarters unfolded, science, health, and health-and-wellness communities must come together to address the increasing misinformation about vaccines and mental health.
- In the general news and crime-and-justice landscape, mental health becomes a crucial point of concern when considering incidents like the shooting at the CDC, where the perpetrator's mental health history may have played a role in the tragic events.
