NYPD deploys extra officers to Asian American communities after Atlanta spa shootings leave 8 dead

The NYPD is deploying officers to Asian American communities across the five boroughs following a string of shootings that left eight people dead at three Atlanta-area spas.

News 12 Staff

Mar 17, 2021, 5:27 PM

Updated 1,367 days ago

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The NYPD is deploying officers to Asian American communities across the five boroughs following a string of shootings that left eight women dead at three Atlanta-area spas.
Police in Atlanta say investigators found three women dead inside the Gold Spa in Atlanta after a call of a reported robbery came in around 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant says while at the first location, they received another call across the street regarding shots being fired. The majority of the victims in the Georgia shooting appear to be Asian.
Police say it is too early to tell if they were targeted because of their race. Police took a suspect into custody about 150 miles south of Atlanta hours after he allegedly went on a killing spree.
The NYPD says there has been an increase in attacks on the Asian community in the city.
The NYPD says there are no specific threats, but they are being vigilant after the attack near Atlanta, and an incident in Midtown where a woman told police someone threw a liquid at her and yelled “Go back to China.”
A rally on Sunday was held at Sunset Park to reject recent hate crimes against Asian Americans. One New Yorker at a rally says, “The Asian American community has been suffering for too long.”
The MTA also launched a new marketing campaign with signs at stations, on buses and in trains that encourage respect for all New Yorkers.
The campaign is being done in partnership with the NYPD, and focuses on “kindness,” “respect” and “solidarity.”
Police urge residents to contact the NYPD Asian Hate Crimes Task Force if they see any potential crimes of hate.