The killings heightened anger and fear among Asian Americans already experiencing a rise in hostility, which has continued.
The Cherokee County district attorney, citing the racial diversity of the victims there — two of whom were white and one Hispanic — among other things, did not find evidence of racial animus. But the Fulton County district attorney is pursuing a sentencing enhancement under the state hate crimes law, saying she believes race and gender played a role in the Atlanta killings.
Noting that Long bought his gun the day of the shootings, Webb speculated that if there had been a waiting period, “there’s at least a reasonable likelihood would still be alive.” “She had no way of defending herself,” said Toole, who fears leaving her own children without a mother. Toole said she felt angry watching him in court because she didn't see any remorse. But she agreed with the district attorney's decision not to seek the death penalty.
Peterson said he and other victims' family members agreed the death penalty was appropriate, but it’s more important to him to have the killings labeled a hate crime. As the son of a Korean mother and a Black father, he said he's conflicted because he doesn't generally support the death penalty and its disproportionate use on people of color.
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