Gunman Targets CDC in Shooting Incident, Leaving Officer Dead; Staff Fear Disinformation Ties Amid Funding Cuts and Uncertainty

In an emergency virtual meeting on Saturday, approximately 800 distraught employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) attempted to process the traumatic events they had experienced the previous day when a gunman targeted their agency’s buildings from across the street.

The incident occurred as the employees were winding down for the weekend, with over 40 bullets shattering through office windows and whizzing past cubicle walls, causing widespread panic among staff in at least four buildings.

The shooting on Friday marks a troubling new development in what has been a challenging period for the CDC. Although authorities have yet to announce a motive for the attack, law enforcement sources suggest that the suspect may have specifically targeted the CDC due to health-related concerns he attributed to the Covid-19 vaccine.

As one of the world’s leading health organizations, the CDC is responsible for safeguarding the health of Americans. However, during the second term of the previous administration, the agency has faced criticism as conspiracy theories continue to surround the vaccine credited with curbing the global pandemic.

During the meeting, CDC leaders confirmed that the attack was calculated and intentional. They also indicated that staff might learn their work could have served as a possible motivation for the shooter.

CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Debra Houry acknowledged the fear felt by employees, both those within the buildings and those elsewhere, expressing anger at the incident.

According to sources who spoke under the condition of anonymity, the attack was carried out by a shooter who had been seeking mental health assistance for weeks prior to the incident but had not made any direct threats.

The identity of the person the suspect was reaching out to remains unclear. The ongoing investigation aims to determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting.

The gunfire began at approximately 5 p.m. at a CVS pharmacy located on Clifton Road, directly opposite the main entrance to the CDC.

Armed with two handguns, a rifle, a shotgun, and two backpacks filled with ammunition, the gunman targeted at least four CDC buildings, resulting in an estimated 40 bullet holes in two buildings and a few in a third building. The affected structures house most of the non-lab work at the CDC.

One leader on the call confirmed that this was not stray gunfire but rather deliberate shots directed at the CDC complex. Copies of staff notes from the meeting, shared within a large employee group chat, were obtained by CNN.

CDC employees expressed feelings of vulnerability during the Saturday meeting, describing themselves as sitting ducks. Photos taken inside one CDC building show bullet holes in windows and shattered glass on the floor, with rounds of ammunition passing just above a line of office cubicles where employees typically work.

As the gunman opened fire on the CDC complex, DeKalb County police officer David Rose arrived at the scene. The shooter then turned his attention from the CDC to Officer Rose, according to law enforcement sources.

Officer Rose, 33, was fatally wounded and later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital. A devoted family man with a wife and two children, he would have celebrated his first anniversary on the job next month.

Following a prolonged lockdown, the gunman was found dead on the second floor of the CVS store later in the evening. It remains unclear whether the fatal shots were fired by police or the shooter himself.

Inside the CDC offices, employees expressed relief that the situation could have been much worse. One employee told CNN it was nothing short of a miracle that no one was killed during the attack.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect may have been mentally unwell or believed he was suffering from an illness caused by the Covid-19 vaccine. Following conversations with family members, police are considering this possibility.

The shooting took place in the same week as a significant announcement made by US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of Covid vaccinations and a proponent of vaccine misinformation. Kennedy announced the cancellation of half a billion dollars in investments in mRNA projects, prompting concerns about the future of vaccine development and distribution.

Upon learning of the shooting at the CDC’s Atlanta campus, Secretary Kennedy expressed his condolences for the loss of Officer David Rose and stated that no one should face violence while working to protect the health of others. He also praised the dedication of public health workers and pledged continued support for their mission.

When asked if she had discussed a plan to address the shooting with Kennedy, CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez confirmed that her office has been in contact with his. However, during the meeting, agency leaders did not provide details about any measures intended to combat disinformation.

In an email sent to staff, Dr. Monarez announced that employees would work remotely on Monday while a security assessment is conducted. Employee assistance personnel were made available to workers during this time.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens expressed sympathy for the challenges faced by CDC employees over the past year, citing uncertainty surrounding their employment. The agency has experienced a 25% staff reduction since January and faces potential budget cuts under the proposed reorganization for the fiscal year 2026, which could lead to the elimination of various programs or their transfer to a new Administration for a Healthy America.

Mayor Dickens expressed his support for the CDC employees and pledged to do everything possible to resolve the situation.