The Atlanta spa shooter's comments to police following his arrest can now be heard by jurors who will decide whether he should die for his crimes.
Robert Aaron Long, 25, went on a killing spree targeting Asian spa workers in March 2021. He pled guilty to four murders and already has been sentenced to life in prison, the Associated Press reported. The shootings began in Cherokee County, where he killed four workers at Youngs Asian Massage. He then visited two more spas in Atlanta, killing four more people.
Long now faces the death penalty in his trial related to the killings in Atlanta.
Defense attorneys had raised concerns that Long had been drinking and was under the influence during a two-hour interrogation, WABE.org reported. However, prosecutors contended that Long "knowingly and voluntarily" participated in the interview and that he had been read and was aware of his rights.
Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville sided with prosecutors, ruling that jurors should hear what Long told police during the interrogation. Also admissible are statements from Long's guilty plea. Fulton County prosecutors also are seeking a hate crimes sentencing enhancement because the Atlanta women who were killed were all of Asian descent, the Associated Press reported.
Long's rampage began March 16, 2021, when he killed four people at Youngs Asian Massage in Cherokee County: Xiaojie "Emily" Tan, 49; Daoyou Feng, 44; Delaina Yaun, 33; and Paul Michels, 54.
He then drove 30 miles to Atlanta and killed three women at Gold Spa: Suncha Kim, 69; Soon Chung Park, 74; and Hyun Jung Grant, 51.
He then went across the street to Aromatherapy Spa and killed Yong Ae Yue, 63.
