Robert Aaron Long, 21, accused of the shootings at spa businesses in the Atlanta metropolitan area that left eight dead, resigned this Thursday, on the recommendation of his lawyer, to appear at his first hearing before the Cherokee County court, in Georgia.
"Everyone is doing their job, both law enforcement and the district attorney's office," said John Daran Burns, attorney for the alleged killer, after meeting with his client at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center.
[How racism and sexism towards Asian women influenced the Atlanta shootings that left eight dead, according to experts]
Long faces eight counts of murder and one of aggravated assault and will not be entitled to bail, after admitting to carrying out the attack that killed six women of Asian descent and two other white people, according to authorities.
[One of the Atlanta shootings investigators posted a racist post against Asians on Facebook]
Investigators said Wednesday that the defendant denied any racist or political motivation for the attack and alluded to an alleged
"sex addiction" for which he blamed the businesses
he opened fire on.
However, they added that they have not yet ruled out that it was a racist hate crime against the Asian community.
Six of the fatalities were women of Asian descent.
The alleged murderer was a "frequent user" of these premises, according to the authorities and they represented
"a temptation that he wanted to eliminate
.
"
Investigators said there could have been many more victims had he not been caught quickly.
["Show more love here", a call in New York to stop hate attacks against Asians]
Two senior law enforcement officials told NBC News that the
9mm pistol Long used was legally purchased
Tuesday before the shooting.