A hate crime? Georgia attacks that killed mostly Asian women raise questions of bias, motive

With six of the eight victims killed in recent shootings in Atlanta identified as of Asian descent, Asian Americans and lawmakers across the country have reported increased fear of attacks on their communities, amid an uptick in racially motivated attacks.

The question of motive swirling around the spa shootings is yet to be answered by law enforcement but it has drawn attention to how hate crimes are defined.

The suspect was arrested and charged with murder and assault after shootings at three Atlanta-area spas on Tuesday. Most of those killed were Asian women. But, according to local law enforcement, the suspect has said his alleged actions were not motivated by race.

A hate crime, by definition, includes a motivation rooted in bias, according to the Justice Department. Bias can be based on a victim's perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability.

Hate crime laws vary by state as to which aspects of a victim's identity can form the basis for bias, but race and religion are two of the most commonly found on the books.

These crimes are usually of a violent nature, and may also include threats of violence. The FBI notes hate crimes may be wholly or partially motivated by bias, but that hate alone without the addition of a criminal act is not illegal.

The FBI says it "is mindful of protecting freedom of speech and other civil liberties."

The Department of Justice adds: "Hate crimes have a broader effect than most other kinds of crime. Hate crime victims include not only the crime’s immediate target but also others like them. Hate crimes affect families, communities, and at times, the entire nation."