The Atlanta shooting on Tuesday night inside a massage parlour that saw about 8 people shot and killed, is said to be sexually motivated and may not have been the issue of racism or anti-Asian violence, Police said.
According to Cherokee County Sheriff, Frank Reynolds said interviews with the suspect who has been identified as 21-year-old, Robert Aaron Long, revealed that his shootings may not have been racially motivated, but tied to sexual issues.
“The suspect has been interviewed, which indicated he has some issues, potentially sexual addiction. He may have frequented some of these places in the past,” Mr Reynolds said.
The Atlanta shooting suspect wanted to “eliminate the temptation” by removing the massage parlors, which provided an outlet for his addiction, according to police.
Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said the officers “are just not there yet” with regard to any potential racial motivators involved in the Atlanta shooting.
Most of the victims of the shooting were of Asian descent.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms said it appeared the shooter was on his way to Florida to attack a porn-related industry when he was intercepted by deputies.
Police said it was unclear if the shootings were motivated by religious convictions.