In the heart of Kennesaw, Georgia, a quiet suburb known for its vibrant community and cozy eateries, a chilling story has unfolded, casting a shadow over the beloved Mellow Mushroom pizzeria. The local franchise, a staple for pizza lovers at 1133 Chastain Rd NW, recently made headlines not for its quirky pizza creations but for a haunting connection to a deadly incident that rocked Atlanta. The restaurant discreetly removed a 2018 social media post that once celebrated Patrick Joseph White, a former employee now identified as the 30-year-old gunman in a tragic shooting near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters on August 8, 2025. What began as a routine Friday afternoon turned into a devastating event that left a DeKalb County police officer dead, another wounded, and a community grappling with shock and sorrow.

The deleted post, once a cheerful spotlight on White as a valued team member, contained one of the first publicly available photographs of the suspect following the attack. Shared in 2018, it painted a picture of a young man who was part of the Mellow Mushroom family, serving up slices with a smile. But that image now feels like a distant memory, overshadowed by the grim reality of White’s actions. The decision to scrub the post came swiftly after reports linked it to the tragedy, as the restaurant sought to distance itself from the horror that unfolded just miles away at the CDC’s Roybal Campus in Atlanta.

The incident began around 4:50 p.m. on that fateful Friday, when White approached the CDC’s heavily secured Roybal Campus. Denied entry by security, his frustration erupted into violence. In a brazen act, he opened fire, targeting multiple buildings on the campus before fleeing across the street to the bustling Emory Point shopping area. There, he entered a CVS pharmacy, perhaps seeking cover or driven by an unclear motive. As chaos erupted, DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, a 33-year-old dedicated servant of the community, was among the first to respond. Tragically, Rose came under immediate fire, sustaining fatal wounds in a heroic attempt to protect others. Another officer was injured but survived, leaving the city to mourn one of its own while grappling with the senselessness of the attack.

Who was Patrick Joseph White, the man behind this devastating act? To those who knew him, he was once a familiar face in Kennesaw—a neighbor described as helpful and friendly, always ready to lend a hand with yard work, walk dogs, or dismantle holiday decorations. A LinkedIn profile tied to White reveals he attended Kennesaw State University and worked at Mellow Mushroom, a detail that ties him to the now-infamous deleted post. But beneath this seemingly ordinary exterior, signs of distress had begun to surface. Neighbors noted a change in White in recent months—he appeared thinner, more withdrawn, and increasingly vocal about his distrust of vaccines. Some recalled him knocking on doors, passionately sharing his concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine, which he believed had caused him personal harm. The loss of his dog added to his grief, painting a picture of a man unraveling under the weight of personal struggles.

While authorities have yet to confirm an official motive, White’s family shared with investigators that he had grown increasingly distressed, blaming the COVID-19 vaccine for his perceived ailments. This narrative, echoed in reports by outlets like CNN, hints at a complex web of grief, frustration, and perhaps mental health challenges that may have fueled his actions. Yet, the why remains elusive, leaving a community to piece together the fragments of a tragedy that feels both deeply personal and jarringly public.

The Mellow Mushroom in Kennesaw, a place known for its vibrant atmosphere and creative menu, now finds itself at the center of an unwanted spotlight. The restaurant, praised for its high-quality pizzas and fresh ingredients, has long been a gathering spot for locals—boasting 509 glowing reviews on platforms like Birdeye and a 4.0 rating on Tripadvisor. Its Facebook page, with over 2,459 likes, proudly declares, “Mellow Mushroom Pizza: Cheaper Than Therapy.” But no amount of cheesy goodness or quirky decor can erase the somber connection to White’s story. The removal of the 2018 post was a quiet act, perhaps an attempt to preserve the restaurant’s reputation as a place of joy, not tragedy.

As Kennesaw and Atlanta reel from the loss of Officer Rose and the shock of the CDC shooting, the story of Patrick Joseph White serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of human connection. From a friendly neighbor and pizza shop employee to a figure at the center of a deadly rampage, White’s journey is a puzzle with missing pieces. The community now mourns, not just for the lives lost and altered, but for the unraveling of a man who once seemed to belong. In the shadow of this tragedy, Mellow Mushroom Kennesaw continues to serve its signature pies, but the taste is undoubtedly bittersweet, as a town searches for healing and answers in the aftermath of a day that changed everything.