Atlanta Korean Shooter May Face Life Imprisonment Instead of Death Penalty

Atlanta shooter Robert Aaron Long [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The shooter who took the lives of 8 people, including 4 Korean Americans, in Atlanta, USA, is expected to complete plea negotiations and plead guilty.

According to the Cherokee County Court in Georgia on the 26th (local time), the arraignment for murder charges against the shooter Robert Aaron Long (22) will be held on the 27th. An arraignment is a process under U.S. criminal law where the defendant is informed of the charges and questioned on whether they admit or deny the charges.

Long shot and killed 8 people at two spas in Fulton County, Atlanta, and one massage parlor in Cherokee County on March 16. He was charged at the Cherokee County Court with killing 4 people and injuring 1 person.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said to local media on the 21st, "It appears that Cherokee County prosecutors and Long will finalize plea negotiations."

Robert James, a lawyer and former DeKalb County District Attorney, predicted, "Given the charges against Long, it is highly likely that the plea deal includes life imprisonment without parole." He added, "Since Long confessed to the crime, the death penalty will not be sought," and "As he has no prior record, mental health issues may be considered as mitigating factors."

Even after the plea negotiations, Long will face a separate trial next month at Fulton County Court for killing 4 women. Fulton County District Attorney Willis plans to apply hate crime charges against Long.