On Friday, we reported on an active shooter situation, which early reports placed on the campus of Atlanta, Georgia's Emory University. There was also a report that the shooter was "down," but nothing was known about any injuries or fatalities.
READ MORE: ‘Shelter in Place’: Active Shooter at Emory University, Suspect Reportedly ‘Down’
As often happens in breaking stories, it took time for developments to gel, as more information was confirmed. There were scant details on exactly what happened and who was responsible. One fact that's important to know in this case: The campus of the university and the headquarters for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are next-door neighbors.
My colleague at sister site Townhall.com, Matt Vespa, shared what was known early on Saturday morning:
There was a shooting at the headquarters for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. The shooter was killed, in addition to a police officer, identified as David Rose, 33, who left behind a wife and three children.
His wife is pregnant with their third. We have no solid evidence of a motive, and the shooter has not been identified. No civilians were injured or killed in the attack.
Vespa went on to give more facts from reports:
A person opened fire on Friday outside of the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, killing one police officer and striking the exterior of several buildings on the C.D.C. campus, the authorities said.
The shooting suspect was found fatally shot, but there were “no civilian casualties,” officials said.
Officials reported an active shooter just before 5 p.m. at a CVS drugstore on Clifton Road, which is directly across from the main entrance to the C.D.C. headquarters. Officers found the suspect on the second floor of the CVS, but it was unclear if the person had been struck in an exchange of gunfire with the police or the gunshot was self-inflicted, Chief Darin Schierbaum of the Atlanta Police Department said at a news conference on Friday evening.
Chief Schierbaum said that investigators believed there was a single shooter but were still working to determine the motive for the attack. The shooter’s identity has not been released.
[…]
Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia praised police officers for responding swiftly and effectively. In a statement on Friday, he referred to another shooting in Georgia, on Wednesday, in which officials said an Army sergeant opened fire on his own unit at a military base in Hinesville, wounding five soldiers.
“Twice this week, deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians,” Mr. Kemp, a Republican, said in the statement. “Each time, brave first responders rushed toward the danger to subdue the shooter and save lives, reminding us of just how crucial they are.”
There's now more complete information on the shooting. Officials have now released the identity of the shooter, and more information on how the shooting happened:
ATLANTA (AP) — Investigators identified a 30-year-old man from suburban Atlanta on Saturday as the person who opened fire on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, killing a police officer and spreading panic through the health agency and nearby Emory University.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the shooter was Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw, Georgia. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was mortally wounded Friday while responding. No one else was hit, although police said four people reported to emergency rooms with symptoms of anxiety. Many CDC employees sought cover in their offices as bullets strafed the agency’s headquarters.
Police say White opened fire at the campus from across the street, leaving gaping bullet holes in windows and littering the sidewalk outside a CVS pharmacy with bullet casings. The attack prompted a massive law enforcement response to one of the nation’s most prominent public health institutions.
In the AP story linked above, a law enforcement official (speaking anonymously) told them new details on how the incident started:
"[T]he shooter had been turned away by guards when he tried to gain access to the campus, and then drove to a spot near the pharmacy and starting firing. He was armed with a long gun and authorities recovered at least three other firearms at the scene.
The report also said White's family contacted law enforcement about his possible involvement due to mental health issues:
The suspect’s father reached out to authorities and identified his son as the possible shooter, the law enforcement official said. The father told authorities that his son had been upset over the death of his dog and seemed depressed because of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Members of the Trump administration responded to the horrible shooting, including the death of the heroic officer.
DeKalb County police, CDC security, and Emory University responded immediately and decisively, helping to prevent further harm to our staff and community.
Our top priority is the safety and well-being of everyone at CDC. We are actively coordinating with federal, state, and local partners to fully investigate the shooter and this tragic crime.
We are deeply grateful to Governor Kemp, Georgia residents, and the American people for standing with us during this difficult time.
No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others.
We are actively supporting CDC staff on the ground and across the agency. Public health workers show up every day with purpose — even in moments of grief and uncertainty.
We honor their service. We stand with them. And we remain united in our mission to protect and improve the health of every American.
The investigation into the shooting continues. Police have not yet determined if the shooter was killed in the melee with the responding officer or he took his own life.
As this is a developing story, RedState will provide updates as more information becomes available.