Spa Shootings: Church Denounces Accused Woodstock Man

MILTON, GA — The man accused of killing eight people in the metro Atlanta spa shootings has been denounced by his Milton church.

Crabapple First Baptist Church, 12760 Birmingham Highway in Milton, released a statement on Friday regarding Aaron Long and his family. Long admitted to killing at least eight people and wounding more after opening fire at three metro Atlanta spas on Tuesday, police said.

Long was charged in connection with the shooting at Young's Asian Massage in Acworth, and at the Aroma Therapy Spa and the Gold Spa in Atlanta.

A former classmate told The Daily Beast that Long was heavily involved in his church, and Crabapple First Baptist Church confirmed he was a member of their congregation. The statement also said his father has never been employed by Crabapple First Baptist Church.

But on Friday, the church said that, "in accordance with the biblical pattern and our church bylaws, we have started the process of church discipline to remove him from membership since we can no longer affirm that he is truly a regenerate believer in Jesus Christ."

"The Long family have been members of our church for many years," the church wrote in its statement. "We watched Aaron grow up and accepted him into church membership when he made his own profession of faith in Jesus Christ. These unthinkable and egregious murders directly contradict his own confession of faith in Jesus and the gospel."

The church called the shootings "extreme and wicked," and "nothing less than rebellion against our Holy God and His Word."

"Aaron’s actions are antithetical to everything that we believe and teach as a church," the statement said. "In the strongest possible terms, we condemn the actions of Aaron Long as well as his stated reasons for carrying out this wicked plan. The shootings were a total repudiation of our faith and practice, and such actions are completely unacceptable and contrary to the gospel.

"No blame can be placed upon the victims. He alone is responsible for his evil actions and desires. The women that he solicited for sexual acts are not responsible for his perverse sexual desires nor do they bear any blame in these murders. These actions are the result of a sinful heart and depraved mind for which Aaron is completely responsible."

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