Atlanta shootings: Some officials call for hate crime charges in the Georgia spa
Robert Aaron Long, 21, is in custody in relation to the shootings in Cherokee County, Georgia and the two others in Atlanta.
Long claimed responsibility for the shooting in Cherokee County, where he faces four counts of murder and a charge of aggravated assault, according to the county sheriff’s office. He also has been charged with more four counts of murder, Atlanta Police Department said.
The suspect told police he believed he had a sex addiction and that he saw the spas as “a temptation … that he wanted to eliminate,” Cherokee County sheriff’s Capt. Jay Baker said.
But Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said it is still too early to know a motive, and Cherokee County District Attorney Shannon Wallace said the investigation is ongoing and appropriate charges will be brought.
When asked if Long could face hate crime charges, Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds said everything is still under investigation and that they will allow the evidence to lead them to a logical conclusion.
While FBI Director Christopher Wray said the attacks don’t appear to be racially motivated, advocacy groups have argued that it is too soon to make that determination. And shootings don’t have to be racially motivated to constitute a hate crime in Georgia.
If Long was targeting women out of hatred for them or scapegoating them for his own problems, it could potentially be a hate crime.
The communities and the nation grapple with fear and grief
Flowers have lined the businesses that were the scenes of devastating violence, but as increased hate impacts Asians and Asian Americans, the emotional toll has been felt across the nation.
“Such vicious, unconscionable acts of violence cut at the very core of our country and the values on which it was founded,” former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said Thursday. “As we await the findings of a thorough investigation, the critical work to combat the haunting rise of hatred against the AAPI community must intensify with the immediacy this latest tragedy commands.”
During a vigil outside of Young’s Asian Spa on Thursday, Sheriff Reynolds told reporters he came to the candlelight vigil to let the Asian American community know that “we have them in our hearts and our prayers and we’re so sorry for the loss of life.”
A vigil was also held outside of Gold Spa in Atlanta.
President Joe Biden ordered flags to be flown at half-staff Thursday to honor the victims. Biden also plans to visit Atlanta on Friday to meet with Mayor Bottoms, as well as Asian…
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