On a Friday afternoon, August 8, 2025, the life of 33-year-old DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was cut short in a hail of gunfire near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. A United States Marine Corps veteran who had served in Afghanistan, Rose had been with the DeKalb County Police Department for only a short time, having graduated from the police academy in March of that year.
He was a married father of two with a third child on the way.
The tragic events unfolded around 4:50 p.m. when a man, later identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw, began firing at the windows of the CDC building. Officer Rose was the first to respond to the active shooter call. Upon his arrival, he was immediately met with gunfire from the suspect, who was armed with multiple guns, including a long gun. Officer Rose was struck and critically wounded. He was transported to Emory University Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Another officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident.
Following the initial shooting, the gunman, Patrick White, entered a nearby CVS pharmacy. A gunfight ensued on the second floor of the store between the suspect and other responding officers. White was later found deceased on the second floor with what was described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound. While an official motive has not been confirmed by law enforcement, reports suggest that White's family believed he targeted the CDC due to an illness he attributed to the COVID-19 vaccine. Writings found at his home also expressed criticisms of the vaccine.
In the wake of his death, Officer David Rose was remembered as a hero who was dedicated to serving his community. In October 2025, he was posthumously awarded the law enforcement Purple Heart and Medal of Honor. The community mourned the loss of the young officer, who was described by his family as a great father and a courageous individual who died doing what he loved.
