Though law enforcement has not officially announced a motive behind the attack, for many in public health, the shooting seemed to vindicate their long-running fears that the backlash to their work during the coronavirus pandemic could turn deadly.

Four CDC workers, who were not authorized to speak publicly, told CBS News under the condition of anonymity that they were "deeply disappointed and frustrated" by an apparent lack of leadership following Friday's shooting​.

The suspected gunman in the shooting of a police officer at the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta on Friday has been identified as Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw, Georgia.