At least eight people were shot dead late Tuesday at massage parlors around the Atlanta metropolitan area in the US state of Georgia. Police have taken the suspected gunman, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, into custody.
Long was also charged with one count of aggravated assault in connection with the shootings.
The authorities said four of the murder counts and the assault charge originated from the first shooting incident, in Cherokee County, and the remaining four murder counts were connected with shootings at two massage parlors in the city of Atlanta shortly after.
The tragedy caused outrage and fear in the Asian-American community as the shootings claimed the lives of six women of Asian descent, although the suspect denied any racial bias once in custody, the newspaper said.
It said Long had told the police he had a “sexual addiction” and had gone on the shooting spree to get rid of his “temptation.” The police said all but one of the victims had been women.
