Atlanta police on Wednesday told reporters that it was too early to determine if the shootings, which occurred at massage parlors in and near the city, should be considered a hate crime.
The suspected 21-year-old shooter, who is white, told authorities the crimes were not racially motivated but that he has a sexual addition and saw the massage parlors as a “temptation” that he wanted to “eliminate.”
Several lawmakers on Wednesday took to Twitter to address the shooting, with some using the hashtags #StopAsianHate to mourn the victims.
Atlanta was shocked last night by a series of shootings leaving 8 people dead 6 of Asian descent
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Biden denounced hate crimes against Asian Americans during a prime-time address last week marking one year since pandemic restrictions began, calling the violence un-American.
Police continue to investigate the shootings near Atlanta that left eight people dead, six of whom were Asian. The shootings took place at massage parlors, and all but one of the victims were women.
Authorities said Wednesday that the suspected gunman claimed he has a sexual addiction, and they have yet to determine whether it will be labeled a hate crime. Still, the shootings renewed conversation around how Asian Americans have been targeted with violence and discrimination amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“The investigation is ongoing. And the question of motivation is still to be determined. But whatever the motivation here I know that Asian Americans are very concerned, because as you know, I have been speaking about the brutality against Asian Americans for the last couple months and I think it is very, very troublesome,” Biden told reporters in the Oval Office. “I am making no connection at this moment on the motivation of the killer. I’m waiting for an answer as the investigation proceeds from the FBI and from the Justice Department.”
“I’ll have more to say when the investigation is completed,” Biden added.