Needham Officials Denounce Georgia Killings

NEEDHAM, MA — Needham Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick and Police Chief John Schlittler issued a statement on Wednesday about the killing of eight people in several massage parlors in Atlanta, GA, six of the victims were Asian women.

The statement reads:

“We are horrified by the murders of eight innocent people in Georgia yesterday. While investigators are still working to determine whether racism was a motivation in these shootings, we note that six of the eight victims were of Asian descent. These killings come on the heels of increasingly violent acts against Asian men and women that should be appalling to all. It is a sad day for our country."

“The Town of Needham and the Needham Police Department are committed to supporting Asian members of our community, who are no doubt feeling threatened and hurt by these assaults. Racism of any kind will not be tolerated in Needham."

“On Tuesday, March 23rd, Needham Police Chief John Schlittler, other area police chiefs, DA Michael Morrissey and local elected leaders will participate in a virtual forum with members of the Asian community to discuss the rise in anti-Asian racism, hate crimes, and incidents and the ways that all of us can support our Asian friends and neighbors during these troubling and challenging times. We must and do stand with them.”

Police arrested the suspect in the shooting, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long and charged him in connection with the shooting at Young's Asian Massage in Acworth, and at the Aroma Therapy Spa and the Gold Spa in Atlanta on Tuesday afternoon. Long admitted to the killings and blamed the massage parlors for fueling his sex addiction.