Investigators are piecing together the motive behind the deadly attack at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), where a Kennesaw man, Patrick Joseph White, unleashed a barrage of over 500 bullets, killing DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose before taking his own life. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and FBI have released new information from evidence and interviews, revealing a troubled history but no clear warning of the violence to come.
Table of Contents
Unraveling the Motive: A Complex Puzzle
While there has been speculation about the shooter’s motive, the GBI has clarified what their investigation has uncovered so far. The findings paint a picture of personal discontent that investigators are struggling to connect to the Tuesday attack.
- Vaccine Discontent: Authorities found writings in White’s home that expressed his displeasure with the COVID-19 vaccine.
- No Direct Threats: Crucially, investigators emphasized that these writings did not contain any threats of violence against the CDC or any other entity. An official described the content as “more of a public awareness” piece.
- A Troubled History: Records show at least ten
911calls were made to the White residence over the past two years for incidents including suicide threats and domestic disturbances. - The Unanswered Question: Despite his history, nothing uncovered so far suggested White would harm others. The GBI is now trying to determine what “changed between Friday and of course that attack” to trigger such extreme violence.
The Arsenal: Secured Weapons and a Forced Entry
The investigation revealed that the 30-year-old shooter was heavily armed during the attack. However, the firearms were not his own, and he had to go to extreme lengths to acquire them.
| Firearm Details | Description |
| Number of Weapons | 5 different firearms were found in his possession. |
| Types of Weapons | A mix of rifles, a shotgun, and possibly a handgun. |
| Primary Weapon | The majority of the 500+ shell casings were from a long gun rifle. |
| Ownership | All weapons were legally registered to White’s father. |
| Storage & Access | The guns were secured in a safe, which White forced his way into. |
The “Red Flag Law” Question in Georgia
The incident has sparked a discussion about Georgia’s lack of a “red flag law,” which exists in 21 other states and Washington D.C. These laws provide a legal framework to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others.
Policy experts noted that it’s unclear if such a law could have prevented this specific tragedy. The effectiveness would have depended on the law’s specific wording, as some versions only apply to guns owned by the person in question, while others can apply to all firearms within a residence. In this case, since the guns belonged to his father, only a more comprehensive version of the law might have been applicable.
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