ATLANTA — President Biden has ordered that flags across the U.S. be lowered to half-staff to honor the victims shooting spree targeting Asian massage parlors that left eight dead and one injured.
Biden announced Thursday that he has ordered flags to be lowered at the White House, all U.S. embassies, military posts and federal buildings both in the U.S. and abroad until sunset on March 22.
The victims, six of whom are Asian women, were shot and killed at three massage parlors in Atlanta and Cherokee County on March 16.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are set to visit Atlanta on Friday where they will meet with Asian-American leaders to discuss the recent attacks and threats against the community.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
TRENDING STORIES:
- Man who wrote Georgia’s hate crime law says spa shooter could still be charged with one
- Inside the mind of an alleged killer: Psychologists analyze motive behind deadly spa shootings
- Names released for victims in deadly Cherokee County spa shooting; Atlanta victims not identified yet
The alleged shooter, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, was captured in Crisp County Tuesday night.
Four of the victims have been identified:
- 33-year-old Delaina Ashley Yaun, of Acworth. A GoFundMe has been set up for her family.
- 54-year-old Paul Andre Michels, of Atlanta
- 49-year-old Xiaojie Tan, of Kennesaw
- 44-year-old Daoyou Feng
Two of the victims in Cherokee County are Asian women. One of them was the owner of Young’s Asian Massage. The four victims from two Massage Parlors on Piedmont Road have not been identified.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said Long has been charged with four counts of murder and one count aggravated assault. The Atlanta Police Department has also charged Long with four counts of murder.
Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds said Long told investigators that he had a sexual addiction and had frequented all three businesses before. Long allegedly told investigators that he blames the massage parlors for providing an outlet for his addiction and wanted to “eliminate the temptation.”
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
