(Lawrenceville, Ga., March 19, 2021) — Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson issued the following statement about the tragic events that happened Tuesday:   

“The tragic loss of life that occurred this week and the impact on our Asian community demands justice! The District Attorney’s Office of Gwinnett County wants to assure our sisters and brothers of Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, and other Asian ethnicities that this Office will enforce the law to its fullest extent, including the hate-crimes statute which permits an enhanced penalty if it is determined beyond a reasonable doubt that ‘the defendant intentionally selected any victim or group of victims…as the object of the offense because of such victim’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual, orientation, gender, mental disability or physical disability.’

Any person or groups who seek to intimidate and harm our Asian community will be prosecuted with every tool available to this Office. Any victims of crime in our jurisdiction are encouraged to contact this office for assistance. There is no tolerance for acts which harm our people. This Office stands with and will continue to stand with our Asian community!”