(East Farmingdale, NY)- “The Suffolk County Police Department has been monitoring increased hate crime activity against Asians in certain areas of our country during the pandemic. The motive for the shootings in Atlanta has yet to be determined but the department continues to monitor intelligence from our law enforcement partners regarding any potential threats in our region and we will respond accordingly to ensure the safety of our residents.”
UNDATED (AP) — Politicians, celebrities, activists and athletes are expressing outrage over the killing of eight people at three Atlanta-area massage parlors. Six of the victims of Tuesday’s shootings were identified as Asian and seven were women. A 21-year-old white man has been charged with eight counts of murder. Police say Robert Aaron Long told them he has a “sex addiction” and that the killings were not racially motivated. But many saw the violence as an attack on Asian Americans, who have been increasingly targeted during the coronavirus pandemic.
Photo: FILE- Exterior of Suffolk County Police Headquarters in Yaphank, October 2020, by Brett Levine
