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| Gunman who attacked CDC may have had anti-Covid vaccine beliefs | Gunman who attacked CDC may have had anti-Covid vaccine beliefs |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Atlanta police sealed streets around Centers for Disease Control (CDC) headquarters near Emory University | Atlanta police sealed streets around Centers for Disease Control (CDC) headquarters near Emory University |
| Investigators say that the man who opened fire on the headquarters of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, killing a police officer, may have been opposed to Covid vaccinations. | Investigators say that the man who opened fire on the headquarters of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, killing a police officer, may have been opposed to Covid vaccinations. |
| Officer David Rose, 33, who graduated from the police academy in March, died in hospital after he was wounded. No civilians were injured. | Officer David Rose, 33, who graduated from the police academy in March, died in hospital after he was wounded. No civilians were injured. |
| Officials told US media on Saturday that they were looking into the theory that the suspect, Patrick Joseph White, 30, was ill, or thought he was ill from a Covid vaccine. White died in the incident. | Officials told US media on Saturday that they were looking into the theory that the suspect, Patrick Joseph White, 30, was ill, or thought he was ill from a Covid vaccine. White died in the incident. |
| The CDC, which tracks outbreaks of illness in the US, played a central role during the Covid pandemic and has been heavily-criticised by vaccine sceptics. | |
| Officer Rose was a former Marine who had served in Afghanistan. | Officer Rose was a former Marine who had served in Afghanistan. |
| DeKalb County official Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said: "This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father." | DeKalb County official Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said: "This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father." |
| Media reports suggested the gunman's father had called police on the day of the shooting, believing his son was suicidal. | Media reports suggested the gunman's father had called police on the day of the shooting, believing his son was suicidal. |
| A neighbour of White told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the suspect had mentioned to her repeatedly that he distrusted Covid-19 vaccines. | A neighbour of White told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the suspect had mentioned to her repeatedly that he distrusted Covid-19 vaccines. |
| Nancy Hoalst, who lives across the street from White's family in the Atlanta suburb of Kennesaw, told the newspaper: "He was very unsettled and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people. He emphatically believed that." | Nancy Hoalst, who lives across the street from White's family in the Atlanta suburb of Kennesaw, told the newspaper: "He was very unsettled and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people. He emphatically believed that." |
| Officer David Rose was a former Marine | Officer David Rose was a former Marine |
| A neighbour who spoke to CBS, the BBC's US partner, said that the suspect was very skinny and was adamant that the Covid vaccine made him sick. | A neighbour who spoke to CBS, the BBC's US partner, said that the suspect was very skinny and was adamant that the Covid vaccine made him sick. |
| His "beliefs were core to who became," she added. | His "beliefs were core to who became," she added. |
| CDC Director Susan Monarez said the centre was "heartbroken" by the attack. | CDC Director Susan Monarez said the centre was "heartbroken" by the attack. |
| "DeKalb County police, CDC security, and Emory University responded immediately and decisively, helping to prevent further harm to our staff and community," she wrote in a post on X. | "DeKalb County police, CDC security, and Emory University responded immediately and decisively, helping to prevent further harm to our staff and community," she wrote in a post on X. |
| In a press briefing on Friday, police said they became aware of a report of an active shooter about 16:50 local time (20:50 GMT) that day near the CDC. | In a press briefing on Friday, police said they became aware of a report of an active shooter about 16:50 local time (20:50 GMT) that day near the CDC. |
| Officers from multiple agencies responded. The CDC campus received a number of rounds of gunfire into its buildings. | Officers from multiple agencies responded. The CDC campus received a number of rounds of gunfire into its buildings. |
| Police said they found the shooter "struck by gunfire" - but could not specify whether that was from law enforcement or self-inflicted. | Police said they found the shooter "struck by gunfire" - but could not specify whether that was from law enforcement or self-inflicted. |
| Secretary of Health Robert Kennedy Jr issued a statement saying the agency was "deeply saddened" by the attack that claimed an officer's life. | Secretary of Health Robert Kennedy Jr issued a statement saying the agency was "deeply saddened" by the attack that claimed an officer's life. |
| "We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No-one should face violence while working to protect the health of others," said Kennedy. | "We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No-one should face violence while working to protect the health of others," said Kennedy. |
| Kennedy has previously expressed doubts about the side effects of vaccines, especially Covid vaccines, and has been accused of spreading misinformation. | Kennedy has previously expressed doubts about the side effects of vaccines, especially Covid vaccines, and has been accused of spreading misinformation. |
| Some former CDC employees who were fired as part of Elon Musk's campaign to shrink the government rejected Kennedy's statement. | Some former CDC employees who were fired as part of Elon Musk's campaign to shrink the government rejected Kennedy's statement. |
| "Kennedy is directly responsible for the villainization of CDC's workforce through his continuous lies about science and vaccine safety, which have fueled a climate of hostility and mistrust," one ex-employee wrote, according to the Associated Press news agency. | "Kennedy is directly responsible for the villainization of CDC's workforce through his continuous lies about science and vaccine safety, which have fueled a climate of hostility and mistrust," one ex-employee wrote, according to the Associated Press news agency. |
| Another former CDC employee told the outlet that the shooting was the "physical embodiment of the narrative that has taken over, attacking science, and attacking our federal workers". | Another former CDC employee told the outlet that the shooting was the "physical embodiment of the narrative that has taken over, attacking science, and attacking our federal workers". |
| Media outlets have reported that CDC employees have been asked to work remotely on Monday. | Media outlets have reported that CDC employees have been asked to work remotely on Monday. |