Georgians are reeling after a 33-year-old police officer tragically lost his life while responding to a shooting near the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, leaving behind a pregnant wife and two young children.
For background, on August 8, 2025, DeKalb County police officer David Rose, 33, was shot and killed during an active-shooter incident at a CVS near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Sadly, press accounts confirmed that Rose was married with two children and a third on the way.
In response to the shooting, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens issued a statement on August 9, saying that Officer Rose “proudly served our nation in the U.S. Marines before joining the DeKalb County Police Department.” He continued, “Officer Rose bravely responded to the active shooter incident on Emory’s campus and lost his life while protecting so many others.”
Continuing, Mayor Dickens said that the city’s leadership grieves alongside Officer Rose’s family, adding, “Officer Rose’s passing is a stark reminder that every day, law enforcement officers put themselves in harm’s way to protect others, and this dedication deserves our respect and gratitude.”
Likewise, on August 9, DeKalb County officials released a statement mourning the loss of Officer Rose, with DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson saying, “This evening there’s a wife without a husband, three children—one unborn—without a father, and a mother and father as well as siblings who also share in this traumatic loss.”
Moreover, Cochran-Johnson said that her “heart goes out to my DeKalb County family,” adding, “Tonight, it is with profound sadness that I say to all frontline responders that we are here to support you. Let us join together to give the family of Officer Rose the support they need.” The statement also clarified that the flags at all County facilities would be lowered to half-staff in honor of Officer Rose.
Additionally, PBS confirmed on August 9 that the shooter who killed Officer Rose had been identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White, a resident of Kennesaw, Georgia. According to the outlet, White shot at the CDC headquarters from the CVS across the street, but no civilians were killed. Mayor Dickens reportedly described White as a “known person that may have some interest in certain things.”
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Regarding the cause of the shooter’s death, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said that details were still uncertain. He clarified, “He had been struck by gunfire. We do not know at this time whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted,” adding, “We do believe there was a single shooter, and we do believe that single shooter is deceased. We want to reassure all parents [of students at nearby Emory University] and loved ones that their children are okay.”
Watch coverage of the tragic incident:
Featured image credit: video screengrab