Kennedy visits CDC main campus in Atlanta following deadly shooting

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) main campus in Georgia, after it was targeted by a shooter last week.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified the suspected shooter as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White, who fatally shot one Atlanta police officer and fired at four different CDC complexes on Friday. 

The officer has been identified as David Rose. White was found dead in a nearby building.

Kennedy was accompanied by Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill and CDC Director Susan Monarez.

HHS said Kennedy toured the facility, visited the DeKalb County Police Department that responded to the shooting and met with DeKalb County Police Chief Greg Padrick and Rose's widow. 

"[Kennedy] offered his deepest condolences and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to honoring Officer Rose’s bravery, sacrifice, and service to the nation," the department said in a statement. 

The department also said CDC staff on the Atlanta campus are working remotely for the week and additional safety and security measures are being implemented at the facility for their return. 

Kennedy's visit comes as he faces backlash for his stance on vaccinations, after the suspect claimed that the COVID-19 vaccine caused his depression, according to the Associated Press.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.