China News Service, March 19, reported that on the 18th local time, the U.S. police notified the progress of the investigation of the serial gun case involving massage parlors in Atlanta, Georgia, saying that the investigation is still going on and the possibility of hate crimes is not ruled out.

On the same day, U.S. President Biden ordered the White House and other public buildings and military posts to lower flags at half-mast to commemorate the victims of the gun case.

　　[Police: The investigation is still ongoing and no possibility has been ruled out]

　　Atlanta Police Department Deputy Commissioner Hampton said at a press conference: "Our investigation is in full swing, so no possibility is ruled out."

　　On the 16th, three massage parlors in Atlanta were involved in a series of shootings, killing a total of 8 people, including 6 Asians. This was the most serious mass homicide in the United States in the past two years.

The 21-year-old suspect, Robert Aaron Long, faces eight counts of murder and one charge of intentional assault.

　　Hampton said investigators believe that Lang had visited two of these massage parlors, and his attacks on these two massage parlors resulted in the deaths of four Asian women.

Lang claimed that the attack was not racially motivated, and he also claimed that he had a "sex addiction."

But Lang's remarks aroused anger and widespread suspicion in the Asian community.

　　The police said they are still working to determine the motive for the crime.

　　Earlier, Jay Baker, a spokesperson for the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, said when introducing the suspect’s arrest that the 21-year-old man “had a bad day and this is what he did.” The speech was widely criticized.

　　Cherokee County Sheriff Reynolds issued a statement on the 18th, acknowledging that some of Baker's remarks caused "a lot of controversy and anger", and said that the agency regretted the "heartache" caused by Baker's remarks.

　　In addition, lawyer Burns issued a statement saying that he has been appointed as Lang's attorney.

He expressed condolences to the families of the victims and said that he was learning the "facts and circumstances" of the murder on behalf of Lang.

Data map: US President Biden.

　　[Biden orders the White House to lower flags at half mast to commemorate the victims]

　　US President Biden ordered the White House and other public buildings and military posts to be lowered at half-mast on the 18th to commemorate the victims of the Atlanta area shootings.

This announcement instructs that the lowering of the flag at half-mast lasts until the evening of the 22nd, and it also applies to US embassies and other overseas agencies.

　　Biden and Vice President Harris originally planned to travel to Atlanta on the 19th to promote the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 rescue plan that was recently signed into law.

In view of the shooting, the two will talk to state legislators of Asian and Pacific Americans and community leaders to hear their views on the surge in anti-Asian hatred during the new crown epidemic.

　　White House spokesman Psaki said on the 17th that former President Trump’s remarks about the new crown virus “undubtedly” heated up the attack on Asian Americans.

She said, "That's why, long before the terrible events of last night, the president felt the importance of mentioning this issue", and "emphasized this matter in the first prime time speech after taking office, and the term of office. Signed relevant administrative orders at the beginning".

　　When talking about the violence on the 16th, Biden admitted that he was worried about the further intensification of attacks against the Asian American community, but he said that he would evaluate the gunmen’s motives after the investigation of the case is over.

He said, "Regardless of the motivation, I know that Asian Americans are very worried, because as everyone knows, I have been talking about atrocities against Asian Americans in the past few months, and I think this is very, very troublesome."