| Atlanta, Georgia Cherokee City Sheriff Frank Reynolds held a press conference Wednesday discussing the suspect who allegedly carried out a massacre at three spas in Atlanta, killing eight, including six Asian women. The sheriff indicated the suspect could possibly have a “sexual addiction” and may have visited the targeted venues before. Police said Robert Aaron Long was arrested after carrying out shootings at three massage parlors in the suburbs of Atlanta on Tuesday.
In the immediate aftermath of the horrific attack, there was early speculation from MSNBC and other outlets connecting the crime to "rhetoric of the Republican party."
However, the police offered no confirmation that any rhetoric was an influence to the crime at this point. “[Long] made indicators that he has some issues, potentially sexual addiction, and may have frequented some of these places in the past,” Sheriff Reynolds said. When the conference opened up to questions, Reynolds was asked if the attack was racially motivated. “It is still early, but the indicators right now are it may not be,” he answered. “It may be targets of opportunity. Again, we believe that he frequented these places in the past and that may have been lashing out.”
Reynolds added that based on initial interviews with Long, racial bias “did not appear to be the motive.” He also reminded the press that it is still very early in the investigation to be discussing motive. One can surmise that also means it's pretty early to be assigning blame for the murders to political opponents. Watch the presser here.
In Other News... • Demi Lovato Reveals She was Sexually Violated and 'Left For Dead' on the Night of Her Overdose • China Orders Media Outlets Not to Air the Oscars Live Over Nomination of Hong Kong Protest Documentary • Nick Cannon Opens Up in ABC Special, Says He's 'Seeking Growth' After Anti-Semitic Comments • Mehdi Hasan Confronts Lincoln Project Adviser: Your Own Former Colleagues Are 'Calling for You to Be Shut Down' 6.5.0 | 
