Sheriff Says Massage Parlor Shooting Suspect Has Possible ‘Sexual Addiction’ and May Have Visited Spas Previously

Cherokee City Sheriff Frank Reynolds said at a press conference Wednesday that the suspect who allegedly carried out a massacre at three spas in Atlanta — killing eight, including six Asian women — potentially suffers from “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. The attack sparked questions about whether this is the latest act of violence in a raft of recent hate crimes against Asian Americans.

Reynolds detailed at the press conference the police interview with Long after he was taken into custody.

“He made indicators that he has some issues, potentially sexual addiction, and may have frequented some of these places in the past,” 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,” Reynolds said. “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.”

The sheriff went on to stress that “it is still early on, we still have a lot of things to process, and so, he should be at an arraignment tomorrow at some time early to late morning and we’ll keep you up to date.”

Watch above, via MSNBC.