Death Penalty Sought For Metro Atlanta Massage Parlor Shooter

WOODSTOCK, GA — Two grand juries in Fulton and Cherokee counties have indicted Robert Aaron Long after the shootings at metro Atlanta massage parlors that killed eight in March.

Robert Aaron Long, 22, of Woodstock, was charged in March 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 Fulton County grand jury indicted Long on Tuesday for the killing of Suncha Kim, 69; Soon Chung Park, 74; Hyun Jung Grant, 51; and Yong Ae Yue, 63, all of whom were shot at the Gold Spa or Aroma Therapy Spa in Atlanta.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who filed the indictment, also filed notice on Tuesday that she will be seeking hate crime charges and the death penalty against Long.

The Associated Press reported that the online records of the indictment charges Long with four counts of murder, four counts of felony murder, five counts of assault with a deadly weapon, four counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and one count of domestic terrorism.

Long also shot and killed Xiaojie “Emily” Tan, 49; Daoyou Feng, 44; Delaina Yaun, 33; and Paul Michels, 54, at Young's Asian Massage in Cherokee County.

A Cherokee County grand jury indicted Long, for four counts of malice murder, four counts felony murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, 11 counts aggravated assault, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and criminal damage to property in the first degree.

“The charges in this indictment were determined based on a comprehensive investigation of Robert Aaron Long and the mass shooting that occurred at Youngs Asian Massage in Woodstock. The investigation was conducted by federal and local law enforcement agencies, in conjunction with the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office,” said District Attorney Shannon Wallace. “Today we have taken another step forward in seeking justice for the victims of this crime and for their family members.”

The next step in the judicial process is the arraignment on the charges. The decision of whether the death penalty will be sought in the Cherokee County case will be announced prior to arraignment. At this time, no date for the arraignment has been scheduled. Since this case is a pending matter within the district attorney’s office, no further comment will be made outside the official proceedings conducted by the court.

Long admitted on March 17 to the killings and blamed the massage parlors for fueling his sex addiction.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office detectives said they were able to track Long's movements via GPS as he was traveling south on Interstate 75. Cherokee Sheriff Frank Reynolds contacted Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock. Crisp County sheriff's deputies, along with the Georgia State Patrol, were waiting for Long as he entered Crisp County.

Authorities arrested Long after disabling his vehicle in Crisp County, Georgia, more than 180 miles south of Acworth.

After a short pursuit, a "PIT maneuver" was conducted on Long's vehicle, and he was taken into custody without incident.

A 9 mm firearm was found during the traffic stop, authorities said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For more on the Atlanta and Acworth Massage Spa shootings:

• Massage Parlor Investigation Continues Despite Confession: Police
• Atlanta Spa Murders: Experts Discuss Sex Addiction
• Atlanta Spa Killings Elicit Grief, Resolve from AAPI Legislators
• Metro Atlanta Massage Parlor Shootings: 5 Things To Know
• 8 Killed In 3 Massage Parlor Shootings, 1 Arrested: Police
• Atlanta Massage Parlor Shootings 9-1-1 Calls Released
• Spa Shootings A Platform For Biden To Deliver On Unity Promise