What began as a quiet Friday afternoon on August 8, 2025, at Emory University’s Atlanta campus turned terrifying in an instant. Around 4:50 p.m., gunfire broke out near the Emory Point CVS—directly across from the CDC headquarters—triggering a lockdown and campus-wide emergency alert urging everyone to RUN. HIDE. FIGHT.
Responding officers—including DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose—rushed to the scene, but tragedy struck when Rose was fatally wounded.
The suspected shooter, later identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White, was found dead on the second floor of the CVS. Investigators are still determining whether the shot that ended his life was self-inflicted or delivered by police. Early reports suggest he held dangerous anti-vaccine views tied to his actions.
Despite the chaos, no civilians were harmed. Even the 92 children inside a CDC daycare nearby remained safe. However, bullet damage was found on several CDC buildings, starkly illustrating how close the campus came to deeper tragedy.
Eyewitnesses’ accounts still echo: one worker said the gunshots sounded “like fireworks,” a chilling reminder of how quickly normalcy can shatter.
In the hours that followed, authorities—including the FBI and state police—secured the area, conducted investigations, and eventually lifted the lockdown. Emory leaders and community officials expressed grief, solidarity, and respect for the bravery of first responders. Officer Rose’s legacy lives on in the resilience of the community.
