Photo: Brynn Anderson/AP/Shutterstock
The man accused ofkilling eight peopleat three Atlanta-area spas on Tuesday allegedly confessed to the slayings and told police he has a sexual addiction, authorities announced at a Wednesday press conference.
Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds, speaking about suspect Robert Aaron Long, 21, said, “He made indicators that he has some issues, potentially sexual addiction, and may have frequented some of these places in the past.”
Reynolds said possible racial animus toward the victims, six of whom were Asian women, “did not appear to be the motive,” instead describing the victims as “targets of opportunity.”
Cherokee County Sheriff’s Capt. Jay Baker, echoing Reynolds' assertion about the suspect’s alleged sex addiction, said he saw the spas as “a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate.”
Robert Aaron Long.CRISP COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE/HANDOUT/Shutterstock
He will be arraigned Thursday morning. It was not immediately clear if he has been formally charged yet.
The deadly shootings took place in three Asian massage parlors.
Shortly after 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Atlanta Police responded to a “business robbery in progress call” at Gold Spa massage parlor. They arrived to find three women dead inside, all from apparent gunshot wounds, Atlanta Police Sgt. John Chafee told PEOPLE in a statement.
For more details on the deadly Atlanta shootings and its significance for the Asian-American community, listen below to the episode of PEOPLE Every Day.
As they were investigating the scene at Gold Spa, someone inside an establishment across the street, Fuji Spa, called 911 to report gunfire. Officers found another woman shot and killed inside, Chafee said.
An hour earlier, police say five people were shot at Young’s Asian Massage outside Acworth, Ga.
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Long, of Woodstock, Ga., was arrested Tuesday evening after a police pursuit.
Surveillance footage allegedly shows Long at the scene of the first shooting, and police believe all three shootings are related. The attacks prompted authorities in other large cities to issue warnings to similar businesses.
Attacks on and racism against Asian Americans hasbeen on the rise in recent months.
According to a recent Harris poll, 75 percent of Asian Americans are fearful of increased hate and discrimination toward them.
To learn more and to report crimes, go to:Asian Americans Advancing Justice,Stop the AAPI Hate,National Council of Asian Pacific Americans,Asian Americans Advancing Justice-LA, andAsian Pacific Policy & Planning Council.
source: people.com
