Atlanta spa shooting suspect returns to court for hearing

August 22nd, 2023

New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim looks over flowers and messages at a memorial for the victims of the March 16 shootings in front of Gold Spa, one of the shooting sites on Sunday, March 28, 2021 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Sudhin Thanawala)

Prosecutors in the case against the man accused of killing four people in Fulton County in the 2021 spa shootings are looking to use his previous confessions to get a conviction.

Robert Aaron Long also killed four people in Cherokee County, and most of the victims were women of Asian descent.

WABE criminal justice reporter Chamian Cruz joined “All Things Considered” to explain what this hearing means for the case.

Cruz said Long is already serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to the murders in Cherokee County.

Court records show he made a series of confessions there soon after his arrest. However, he has pleaded not guilty in Fulton, where he is facing hate crimes charges and the death penalty.

For months, hearings were held over Zoom — or delayed — because of several other high-profile cases.

Cruz said Long attended his Monday motions hearing in person.

At least four other hearings are scheduled for later this year.

Christopher Alston contributed to this report.