Ga. plans to seek death penalty, hate crime charges for Atlanta spa suspect
FILE-In this Wednesday, March 17, 2021 file photo, A make-shift memorial is seen outside a business where a multiple fatal shooting occurred, in Acworth, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 12:40 AM PT – Wednesday, May 12, 2021
The man who allegedly shot and killed eight people, with the majority of those victims being women of Asian descent, could be facing hate crime charges and the possibility of a death penalty. Robert Aaron Long, 22, is the suspect of three separate Atlanta spa shootings that occurred on March 16.
On June 23, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation allowing additional penalties to be imposed for crimes motivated by a victim’s race, religion, sexual orientation or other factors. County District Attorney Fani Willis announced on Tuesday she intends to move forward with hate crime charges and the death penalty. Willis said that the alleged crime requires the t
Prosecutor seeks hate crime charges, death penalty in spa shootings
Georgia DA to seek death penalty for spa shootings
Replay Video UP NEXT A Georgia district attorney will seek the death penalty and hate crimes charges against Atlanta spa shootings suspect Robert Aaron Long. Long was indicted Tuesday on murder and other charges stemming from the shootings. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis filed a notice regarding the hate crime charges and the death penalty on Tuesday. Last year, I told the voters of Fulton County that I could not imagine a circumstance where I would seek [the death penalty], Willis said during a press briefing Tuesday evening. Unfortunately, a case has arisen in the first few months of my term that I believe warrants the ultimate penalty, and we shall seek it.
Kate Brumback
FILE - This March 16, 2021 booking photo provided by the Crisp County, Ga., Sheriff s Office shows Robert Aaron Long, 22, accused of killing eight people, six of them women of Asian descent, in shootings at three Atlanta-area massage businesses. Long was indicted Tuesday, May 11, 2021, on murder charges, and a prosecutor filed notice that she ll also seek hate crime charges and the death penalty. (Crisp County Sheriff s Office via AP, File) May 11, 2021 - 4:17 PM
ATLANTA (AP) â A man accused of killing eight people, six of them women of Asian descent, in shootings at three Atlanta-area massage businesses was indicted Tuesday on murder charges by two separate grand juries, and one prosecutor filed notice that sheâll also seek hate crime charges and the death penalty.
Prosecutor to seek death penalty for man charged in Atlanta-area killings
A man accused of killing eight people, six of them women of Asian descent, in shootings at three Atlanta-area massage businesses was indicted Tuesday on murder charges. A prosecutor filed notice that she ll also seek hate-crime charges and the death penalty.
Social Sharing
The Associated Press ·
Posted: May 11, 2021 2:35 PM ET | Last Updated: May 11
In this March 19 photo, flowers, candles and signs are displayed at a makeshift memorial in Atlanta following a fatal shooting. The murder case against Robert Aaron Long, a white man accused of shooting and killing six women of Asian descent and two other people at Atlanta-area massage businesses, could be the first big test for Georgia’s new hate-crimes law. (Candice Choi/The Associated Press)