[앵커]
Correspondent Lim Jong-ju, how is the situation on the site right now?
[기자]
It is just above downtown Atlanta and is home to many massage parlors and clubs.
There are many places that are open 24 hours, but immediately after the incident, they were closed one after another, and the number of people was weak.
A bouquet of commemorations mourning the sad death began to be placed on the scene.
People around me couldn’t hide their bitterness and shock.
[주반 영/인근 문신 업소 매니저 : 저는 피해 여성들과 대화를 나눠 보기도 했습니다. 정말 비극적인 일입니다. 이런 범죄를 증오합니다. 뭔가 조치가 취해지기를 바랍니다.]
[앵커]
What’s going on with the investigation, and the suspect has been prosecuted?
[기자]
The suspect, 21-year-old white young man Robert Aaron Long, was caught by police tracking a GPS device attached to a vehicle three hours after the incident.
At the time, he tried to go to Florida to commit further shootings, but was found to have been arrested on the report of the suspect’s parents.
The suspect has been charged with murder and assault.
[앵커]
By the way, you are claiming that there was no racial motive.
[기자]
He confessed to the shooting, but he claims it is not a hate crime.
There are also statements from surrounding people that the suspect was obsessed with religion and showed attachment to firearms.
The police are talking about the possibility of sex addiction, and it is too early to be considered a hate crime.
[제이 베이커/미국 애틀랜타 체로키카운티 경찰 대변인 : 용의자는 인종적인 동기가 아니라고 주장하고 있습니다. 성 중독 문제도 있는 것 같습니다.]
Moreover, it raised controversy by saying that it was a “bad day for the suspect.”
American netizens accused them of covering up the nature of hate crimes, saying that they were only spoken to children who did wrong.
Suspicions have also been raised that the police posted pictures of racist T-shirts on social media in the past.
[앵커]
President Biden and Vice President Harris also expressed concerns about this case, right?
[기자]
President Biden said he knows that Asian-Americans are concerned, whatever the motives of the crime.
However, as it is being investigated, he showed a cautious appearance, asking for the results.
Vice President Harris mourned the victims and said hate crimes of any form should not be silent.
Korean lawmakers also said the case was a hate crime.
Let’s hear what Congressman Marylin Stryclund says for yourself.
[매릴린 스트리클런드/하원의원 : 이번 사건은 여성, 아시안 커뮤니티를 겨냥한 폭력임을 보여줍니다.]
[앵커]
So far, Correspondent Lim Jong-joo has delivered it from Atlanta.