On Tuesday, a gunman in Atlanta opened fire in a string of attacks at local spas, murdering 8 people.
And now, police have claimed the gunman was "having a bad day"...
How is this still happening?
It's 2021, and we are still living in fear of these devastating mass shootings.
As soon as the tragic news broke, people took to social media to share their shock and heartbreak.
I live in Atlanta and am heartbroken about the 8 murders here tonight targeting Asian spas. Disgusting.
— AtlBlue (@atl_randy) March 17, 2021
The hate that Asians get is truly disgusting. What happened in Atlanta was a racist act of white supremacy at its finest. A white man went to various spas with the intent of murdering those people.
— kiaraknowsnothing (@Kok_oko04) March 18, 2021
This white man in Atlanta killed 8 people last night and I believe 6 of them were Asian American women. He literally went to Asian spas... so sad
— Elizabeth • Chris Cuomo Stan (@eliza8970) March 18, 2021
It's so , sad ! What happened to Atlanta . Man killed 8 Asian Woman . Just don't know ! What kind of Spa . I do wish there shouldn't be Strips Clubs anywhere . It's scary Women's are Victims . But one thing for sure - Asian Woman's abuse by Woman's too .
— jack (@jack35767730) March 18, 2021
i am sick to my stomach about the murder of 4 asian women, 8 people in total, at massage parlors today in atlanta.
— Julie Ae Kim (@julieaekim) March 17, 2021
i am angry and sad. it’s the elders, the women, immigrants who are targeted for a reason- because the system leaves them the most vulnerable. #atlantaspa https://t.co/3CWrghel6k
My heart goes out to the families and communities of the eight people murdered at metro-Atlanta spas. I am deeply saddened that we live in a nation and world permeated by hate and violence. I stand with Asian members of our World House, who are a part of our global human family.
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) March 17, 2021
This is deeply, deeply sad.
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) March 17, 2021
Trump on Fox *tonight* referred to COVID using the racist slur "China virus."
He previously called it the "Kung Flu."
While he continues to spread hatred against Asian Americans, people like this shooter are listening.https://t.co/bBAkzQl3R1
My condolences goes out to the families of all the victims and the entire Asian community tonight on what transpired in Atlanta at the Aromatherapy Spa. Coward a** young man!! Just senseless and tragic!! 🙏🏾❤️👑
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 17, 2021
Rest in Peace to the victims of the shooting in Atlanta last night. For months, ESEA communities have been speaking out about the increase in Anti-Asian hate crime and what happens when harmful rhetoric towards marginalised communities is left to fester #StopAsianHate
— gal-dem (@galdemzine) March 17, 2021
Another god damn mass shooting in Atlanta, 7 dead but god fucking forbid we pass background checks. What is it going to take until this country gets control of our gun problem?
— David Weissman (@davidmweissman) March 17, 2021
Rest In Peace,
— Jollene 🍞🌹 (@jollenelevid) March 17, 2021
- Delaina Ashley Yuan, 33, of Acworth
- Paul Andre Michels, 54, Atlanta
- Xiaojie Yan, 49, Kennesaw
- Daoyou Feng, 44
4 of the Atlanta shooting victims in Cherokee County were confirmed to be Korean, Korean-American. We mourn with the diaspora. #StopAsianHate
The shooting took place on Tuesday evening.
TODAY 8 ASIAN WOMEN WERE KILLED IN A MASS SHOOTING HATE CRIME BY A TERRORIST IN ATLANTA. pic.twitter.com/BHCaDGFdKe
— GUCCI MEIN 🍜 (@tomngo422) March 17, 2021
A lone gunman, reportedly identified as Robert Aaron Long, opened fire at local spas across Atlanta.
As per the New York Times, 4 people died in the first shooting at Young's Asian Massage, which was reported around 5 pm.
Getty
Just a short while later, a robbery was reported at Gold Spa and when officers attended they found the bodies of 3 women.
And while at the scene another call came in, that shots were fired nearby at the Aromatherapy Spa, where the body of another woman was found.
8 people died, 6 of whom were Asian.
It comes as the U.S. is seeing a surge in violence targeting Asian Americans.
Dozens gathered at Diversity Plaza tonight in a vigil to mourn the 8 victims, 6 of whom were Asian American women, of last night’s mass shooting in Atlanta, and to condemn the surge of anti-Asian hate crimes. pic.twitter.com/VJ4soNwEo2
— Angélica M. Acevedo (@angacevedo15) March 18, 2021
Though, as per The Cut, investigators said it was still "too early" to confirm whether the attack was racially motivated.
The suspect, Robert Aaron Long who was arrested following a manhunt, told authorities that he did not target the victims because of their race, but because he had a "sexual addiction" and wanted to "eliminate" his "temptation."
It's truly heartbreaking.
But now, just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...
The police have claimed Long's actions were the result of him having a "really bad day."
In the shocking news conference, captain Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office said that Long "was pretty much fed up and at the end of his rope."
Police Chief of Atlanta says that the shooter has admitted to the shootings, and that he told the police they were not racially motivated. The shooter was trying to "eliminate a source of temptation" that he had taken advantage of. Just horrifying carnage. pic.twitter.com/y3stqR2814
— Batya Ungar-Sargon (@bungarsargon) March 17, 2021
Before adding "Yesterday was a really bad day for him, and this is what he did."
While another officer said that Long likely frequented the spas and was "lashing out."
Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant, speaking now on whether the shootings last night were a hate crime
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) March 17, 2021
"We are still early in this investigation so we cannot make that determination at this moment." pic.twitter.com/ATnqM2Prn9
Leaving people shocked and horrified at their justification of a mass murderer.
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