Atlanta was hit by yet another mass shooting on 14 April when a gunman opened fire in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) facility, leaving one dead and four injured. Police revealed that the deceased was a CDC employee and died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, carrying a semi-automatic weapon. The four injured were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, three of them still in critical condition. The attack took place in an area of the city that was thought to be safe, and sent shockwaves through the community. Atlanta police spokesman Carlos Campos stressed that there was “no cause for alarm” despite the tragedy.
The suspect responsible for the shooting has been identified as Deion Patterson, a 24-year-old US Coast Guard veteran. After the incident was over, Patterson fled the scene and was captured after a massive manhunt across the city. Patterson was reportedly angered after failing to obtain anti-anxiety medication. He is one of 192 people to have been involved in mass shootings this year in the United States in incidents where four or more people have been shot.
Patterson arrived at the Northside Medical building, where he had an appointment, and opened fire, according to authorities. After making his swift escape, the suspect then went to a gas station and stole a pickup truck that had been left unattended and was running. The four wounded women were aged 25, 39, 56, and 71 and all remained in critical but stable condition, according to Atlanta Police Deputy Chief Charles Hampton Jr. The motive behind the attack is still under investigation.
Following the incident, the CDC expressed its condolences and described its deep sorrow at the loss of their employee. The deceased has now been confirmed as Amy St. Pierre, who worked on maternal mortality reduction research. Patterson’s mother, Minyone Patterson, explained that her son had “some mental instability going on” from medication that he received from the Veterans Affairs health system. She further claimed that her son’s request for Ativan, a medication used to treat anxiety, was denied, which may have played a role in the shooting.
The United States has been hit by several mass shootings this year, leading to increased pressure on lawmakers to introduce measures to limit access to weapons. Georgia’s US Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, both Democrats, called for gun reform following the shooting. Senator Warnock claimed that mass shootings were almost happening every day in the country this year and added, “This is not normal”. The search for reasons and solutions to these tragedies must continue as the country is left to mourn yet another senseless act of violence.
