On what was supposed to be a relaxing spa day with her husband, Delaina Ashley Yaun Gonzalez's life was tragically cut short. The 33-year-old mother of two was one of eight people killed during a shooting spree at three Atlanta-area spas on March 16, 2021. Gonzalez and her husband were at Youngs Asian Massage in Acworth, Georgia, when a gunman opened fire.
She was a first-time customer at the establishment.
The senseless act of violence that claimed Gonzalez's life, along with the lives of seven others, sent shockwaves through the nation. The victims in Acworth, in addition to Delaina, were Paul Andre Michels, Xiaojie 'Emily' Tan, and Daoyou Feng. Four other individuals were killed at two other spas in Atlanta. The lone suspect in the rampage was identified as Robert Aaron Long. He was apprehended by law enforcement several hours after the shootings following a police pursuit.
Following his arrest, the suspect admitted to carrying out the attacks. He was subsequently indicted on multiple counts of murder and aggravated assault. In a plea deal related to the Acworth shootings, Long pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. For the killings in Atlanta, he faced additional murder charges. The motive behind the horrific events was a subject of much debate, with the suspect claiming a sex addiction, while many viewed the attacks as hate crimes targeting the Asian American community.
