Georgia Spa Shooter Sentenced for Cherokee County Murders

By Alyssa Wilson Published: July 27, 2021

Georgia Spa Shooter Sentenced for Cherokee County Murders

By: Alyssa Wilson

Robert Aaron Long, the man accused of killing eight people at three Asian spas in Georgia, was sentenced to serve four life sentences for the four people killed in Cherokee County. He previously pleaded guilty to all charges for the four deaths as part of a plea deal.

According to the Associated Press, Cherokee County investigators saw no evidence of racial bias, which goes against the hate crime enhancement he faces in Atlanta. Many are outraged, saying Long targeted Asian women in the shootings. “This was not any kind of hate crime,” District Attorney Shannon Wallace said.

By pleading guilty to the first four deaths as part of the deal, Long hoped for a life sentence without the possibility for parole. If convicted in all eight, he faces the death penalty because of the addition of domestic terrorism charges in another county.

Wallace determined Long’s goal was about “shooting anyone and everyone he saw.” Prosecutors said he was motivated by his “sex addiction” and his desire to end it rather than any hate against Asians or women.

“All of the evidence that was gathered with regard to Cherokee County, your honor, came to the same conclusion, that this crime was not motivated by a bias or hate against Asian Americans. As for gender bias, Wallace said a hate crime enhancement based on hatred of women would not have significantly extended his sentence,” Wallace said.

As part of a plea deal, the 22-year-old admitted to all of the charges in Cherokee County, where he is accused of malice murder, felony murder, attempt to commit murder and aggravated assault. The families of the victims killed in that county supported the deal in an attempt to get justice quickly.

Long is scheduled to appear in Fulton County next month. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said she intends to seek a hate crime sentence enhancement along with the death penalty.

Georgia’s hate crimes law does not provide for a stand-alone charge. After a person is convicted of a crime, a jury must determine if it was motivated by bias.

The victims killed in Cherokee County were 49-year-old Xiaojie “Emily” Tan, 44-year-old Daoyou Feng, 33-year-old Delaina Yaun and 54-year-old Paul Michels. The victims killed in Atlanta were 69-year-old Suncha Kim, 74-year-old Soon Chung Park, 51-year-old Hyun Jung Grant and 63-year-old Yong Ae Yue.

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