from Shaddi Abusaid
In the year leading up to Friday
afternoon’s shooting at the CDC, Patrick Joseph White spoke increasingly
with a neighbor about his distrust of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The
30-year-old was known as a handyman of sorts in his quiet west Cobb
neighborhood, regularly mowing lawns, trimming shrubs and walking dogs
for his neighbors.
But in recent months, something seemed to change, said Nancy Hoalst, who lives directly across the street from White’s family.
She said White regularly brought up his distrust of vaccines, even during conversations that were entirely unrelated.
“He was very unsettled and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people.” Hoalst said.
“He emphatically believed that.”
Hoalst, who has lived in the neighborhood about five years, said she always knew White to be friendly.
In
the fall, he would take it upon himself to blow the leaves off her lawn
and driveway ahead of Halloween and the influx of trick-or-treaters.
“He seemed like a good guy,” she said. “He would volunteer to walk dogs. He did good things.”
