Robert Aaron Long, 21, admitted to being the author of three shootings that killed 8 in Atlanta on March 16, 2021. – POLICE
He is accused of having “selected” his victims on the basis of their “race, origin, sex and gender, real or perceived”. The author of the shootings in Asian massage parlors in Atlanta has been formally indicted by a grand jury, in particular for murder and “domestic terrorism”. And the prosecutor said on Tuesday that she intended to seek the death penalty against Robert Aaron Long.
At the same time, Fulton County Prosecutor Fani Willis informed the court of Georgia’s “state intention” to seek the death penalty against the accused, especially because of the “horrible and inhuman” nature. murders.
Eight dead including six people of Asian origin
On March 17, the young man, a staunch Christian follower of guns, opened fire at a massage parlor in Acworth, about 50 miles from Atlanta, killing four and injuring two. He later attacked two other salons, located in the large southern city, mopping four more lives.
The tragedy caused a stir in the United States, in particular in the community of Asian origin, six of its eight victims belonging to this minority. Robert Aaron Long, who acknowledges the facts, however told the investigators not to have a racist motive, presenting himself as a “sex maniac” anxious to remove “a temptation”.
Without prejudging the result of the investigation, Democratic President Joe Biden had considered “very worrying” the upsurge in violence against Americans of Asian origin since the start of the pandemic.