DeKalb officer killed in CDC shooting remembered as investigation continues
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DeKalb County Police Sgt. David Rose. People left flowers outside the CDC Global Headquarters honoring the officer. Photos: Courtesy of the DeKalb County Police Department/Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images
The DeKalb County police officer killed while responding to an active shooter incident near the CDC on Friday is being remembered as a young father with a clear definition of public service.
Driving the news: David Rose, a 33-year-old U.S. Marine and married father of two with another on the way, was one of the first officers to arrive at the CDC's Clifton Road headquarters to reports of gunfire just before rush hour on Friday.
- Rose, who joined the department in September, graduated from the police academy five months ago and was a class leader, DeKalb County said in a statement.
- "We wanted to wear the badge, not for the sake of the title, but for the responsibility that comes with it," Rose told his classmates at the March graduation. "And responsibility is exactly what this job demands."
Rose's mother was an Emory Hospital ICU nurse for nearly 20 years, so he knew the area well, DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson told the AJC.
- "This young man, as a kid, literally grew up in the Emory community — walking the halls of the hospital," Cochran-Johnson said.
What they're saying: Officer Rose served DeKalb County "with courage, integrity, and unwavering dedication," DeKalb police said in a statement on Friday. "Even in the face of danger was he diligent in his duty to protect our community."
What we're watching: Details about Rose's funeral arrangements have not been released as of Sunday.
State of play: CDC workers have been advised to work from home and take safety precautions as investigators continue to piece together what prompted Friday's shooting.
Catch up quick: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified Patrick Joseph White, a 30-year-old Kennesaw resident, as the shooter.
- Officers found White dead on the second floor of a CVS across the street. They have not said whether his wounds were self-inflicted or the result of police gunfire.
Threat level: CDC offices are expected to be closed on Monday, the New York Times reported, citing a memo to employees from the agency's security team. Workers were also advised to remove agency stickers and decals from their vehicles.
Zoom in: Investigators have not released the alleged shooter's motive. The New York Times and CNN, citing an unnamed official, reported that White blamed his health ailments on the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Nancy Hoalst, who lived across the street from the home White shared with his parents, told the Times he seemed "unsettled" and "very deeply believed that vaccines had hurt him… and that they were hurting other people."
- As of Sunday evening, the GBI, which is leading the investigation, said the agency had no updates to share.
Between the lines: The shooting and the apparent motive behind it raise questions about the dangers of vaccine conspiracy theories and misinformation and compound the stress on a workforce already strained by budget cuts.
- On Friday, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime and vocal vaccine skeptic, released a statement saying, "[N]o one should face violence while working to protect the health of others."
The big picture: Friday's shooting also prompted Georgia Democrats, including House minority leader Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus) and state Sen. Elena Parent (D-Atlanta), to call for laws and policies to reduce gun violence.