Anxious Asian Community in Atlanta Shooting... Suspect's SNS Calls "China the Greatest Evil"

Shooting scene near Atlanta, Georgia, USA. [Source=CNN News Capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] The Asian American community in the United States is shaken by fear after a series of shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, on the 16th (local time), which left eight people dead, including four Koreans.

According to the New York Times (NYT) and the Washington Post (WP), the New York Police Department's counterterrorism unit tweeted that they are "monitoring the shootings targeting Asian Americans in Georgia" and announced that police will be deployed in Asian communities within New York as a precaution. The Seattle Police Department also plans to increase patrol officers to protect Asian residents in the city.

Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is supporting the investigation into the Atlanta shooting, NYT reported.

Brian Kemp, Governor of Georgia, tweeted, "Praying for the victims of this horrific violence."

The organization that receives reports of anti-Asian Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate incidents, "Stop AAPI Hate," emphasized in a statement that "the shootings in Atlanta today are an unspeakable tragedy for the Asian American community, which has been staggering under severe racist attacks throughout the past year."

They further expressed concern that this incident "only exacerbates the fear and pain that the Asian American community must continue to endure." According to AAPI, there have been 503 reported anti-Asian Pacific Islander hate incidents from January 1 to the 28th of last month.

Meanwhile, attention is also focused on the suspect in the series of shootings, white male Robert Aaron Long. Police confirmed that Long drove a black 2007 Hyundai Tucson SUV while moving between crime scenes.

Reports have also emerged that the suspect was deeply religious. The American online media outlet Daily Beast cited an Instagram account believed to be used by Long, reporting that he had a passion for guns.

Meanwhile, posts believed to have been written by Long are spreading on social networking services (SNS). According to netizens who captured these posts, the SNS writings label China as an "evil" in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. The posts reportedly include expressions such as "All Americans must fight against China, the greatest villain of our time."