Shooting at CDC Linked to COVID-19 Vaccination

• A man opened fire at the CDC headquarters, blaming the vaccine.
• A police officer was killed during the incident, the shooter identified.
• The CDC Secretary faced criticism for his statements regarding the vaccine.

This is reported by ABC News, The Yomiuri Shimbun.

Atlanta -- A man from Georgia who opened fire at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cited the COVID-19 vaccine as the reason for his depressive state. This incident occurred on September 9, 2025, when a 30-year-old man, armed with a handgun, including a long gun, attempted to enter the CDC premises but was stopped by security. After this, he opened fire from his vehicle, resulting in the death of police officer David Rouse.

The shooter's father reported to the police, identifying his son as a possible suspect, stating that he had been struggling with depression due to the loss of his dog and had a fixation on the vaccine. The family resides in Kennessaw, Georgia, approximately 40 km from the CDC headquarters.

As a result of the shooting, several CDC buildings received serious damage, and employees spent several hours under lockdown while investigators gathered evidence. CDC Director Suzanne Monarez confirmed that at least four buildings were targeted in the attack.

The Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, Robert Kennedy, expressed support for CDC employees, but some of the laid-off workers consider him responsible for the climate of mistrust and for his statements. They accuse him of widespread disinformation about scientific research and vaccine safety, which has led to increased distrust in the CDC.

Neighbors of the shooter indicated his persistent discussions about distrust in vaccines, noting that he had been recorded expressing anti-vaccine sentiments. Nonetheless, they did not believe that he was prone to violence.

In response to the shooting, CDC leadership announced plans to conduct a comprehensive safety assessment to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Tags: USA/Crime