Anti-Asian attack in Atlanta leaves eight dead
A shooting spree at three massage parlors in Atlanta last Tuesday left eight people dead and one in critical condition. The victims have been identified as Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley Yaun and Paul Andre Michels. Elcias R. Hernandez-Ortiz is in critical condition, and the names of the other victims have yet to be released. The suspect for the shootings has been identified as Robert Aaron Long, who according to The New York Times, told officials that he struggled with “sexual addiction” and had carried out the shootings to eliminate his “temptation.” Long has since been charged with eight counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault, with some officials callling for hate crime charges. Six of the eight victims were of Asian descent, raising concern and sparking outcry over the rising incidence of violence against the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in the U.S. Seven of the victims were women.
Sexual assault allegations arise against actor Armie Hammer
Last week, the Los Angeles Police Department opened a sexual assault investigation against actor Armie Hammer. Hammer, who has starred in films such as “Call Me By Your Name” and “The Social Network,” is under investigation after a woman accused him of violently raping her in 2017. According to CNN, the woman, identified only as Effie, lives in Europe and claims to have had an on-and-off intimate relationship with Hammer. Effie has accused Hammer of assaulting her for over four hours and claims she thought he was going to kill her.
Houston Texans quarterback accused of sexual misconduct
According to NBC News, last week, NFL officials began an investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations against star quarterback Deshaun Watson. Three massage therapists filed lawsuits against the Houston Texans quarterback, accusing him of sexual misconduct. One woman claims Watson coerced her to perform oral sex on him. According to the NFL website, the NFL can suspend Watson if they find him in violation of the league’s personal conduct policy, even if there is no official criminal conviction.
Vanessa Bryant names deputies involved with sharing images of her husband’s death
Last September, Vanessa Bryant, the widow of late Kobe Bryant, filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County and the sheriff’s department for sharing images of her husband and daughter’s deaths. The names of the officers were shielded, but last week, a federal judge ruled that there was a strong public interest in releasing their names, according to NBC News. Deputies Joey Cruz, Rafael Mejia, Michael Russell and Raul Versales have been accused of taking or distributing pictures of the fatal Jan. 26 helicopter crash. Bryant has also accused LA County firefighters. However, no names have been released.
