Eight people were killed on Tuesday when a man went on a deadly rampage at three metro Atlanta spas and authorities do not believe the shootings were racially motivated.
The Shootings
The shooting began around 5 p.m. at Young’s Asian Massage parlor off Bells Ferry Road and Highway 92 in Cherokee County.
Two Asian women, one white woman and one white man were killed inside the spa.
The names of the victims: Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33, of Acworth, Paul Andre Michels, 54, of Atlanta, Xiaojie Yan, 49, of Kennesaw, and Daoyou Feng, 44.
Another man, Elcias R. Hernandez-Ortiz, who is Hispanic, was hit by a bullet as he was walking out of the store next door.
The suspect then drove into the city of Atlanta and opened fire at two spas across the street from each other on Piedmont Road.
Three people were killed at Gold Spa and one was killed at Aromatherapy.
Atlanta police confirmed all four women killed were Asian.
The Suspect
After receiving a tip, the Georgia State Patrol spotted the suspect’s car on GA 401/I-75 on Tuesday evening. He was headed to Florida.
They were able to perform a PIT maneuver on his car and took him into custody.
The suspect has been identified as Robert Aaron Long, 21, of Woodstock.
Authorities claim there is no indication the shootings were racially motivated.
Long claims he targeted business he had been to before because he had “issues” with sexual addiction.
Of course, the domestic terrorist isn’t going to admit to a hate crime.
The FBI has joined the investigation.
Watch the news report below:
My prayers to all of the families impacted by this senseless act of violence.
