“Like loud thunder”: Witnesses describe terrifying moments shots rang out at Asian spa

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — A couple who witnessed the fatal shootings at a Cherokee County Asian spa are speaking out about the terrifying moments the suspect stormed the store.

Alejandro Acosta and Rita Barron spoke to “Good Morning America” on Sunday. Acosta said he and his wife, who own the business next door to Young’s Asian Spa, knew all of the victims.

Acosta said he and his wife were in their store when they heard loud bangs. Acosta said that at first, he thought someone might be playing a prank, but the bangs continued.

“I was in the bathroom and I heard a loud thunder, very, very strong,” Acosta said. “I immediately heard another. It was a little alarming.”

Barron said the disturbance was so loud she couldn’t focus on her own customers.

“I heard the people in the business next to ours screaming,” Barron said.

The only thing separating them from the gunfire was the wall between their stores.

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Barron told Acosta to go check on the woman at the spa next door. He found three women outside who looked scared and asked if they needed help.

“On other occasions I’ve tried talked to them in English, but they don’t speak much English,” Acosta said. “Two of them said ‘The shot man, the shot man.’...I returned to the store and told my wife to call 911, it looks like someone fired shots.”

Police arrived on the scene quickly. The couple watched police bring an injured man outside of the building who they recognized as a mechanic the couple knew. That victim, Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz, was injured. Barron said she has spoke to Hernandez-Ortiz’ wife, who said he’s stable and fighting in the hospital.

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Another man that the couple knew, Mario Gonzalez, was not injured in the shooting but told police his wife was still inside.

“Mario asked, ‘My wife. Can you tell them that my wife is inside?’” Acosta said. “A police officer walked by him and he’s asking about his wife. ‘What’s happening, what’s happening? She’s inside.’”

Gonzalez’ wife, Delaina Ashley Yaun, was one of the victims who was killed. Family members said and Gonzales had arranged for someone to take care of their 8-month-old daughter so that they could have some time to unwind. It was their first visit to the spa.

Barron said the couple were customers of theirs and she had just spoken to Yaun the day before. Yaun showed her pictures of her two children.

“She said, ‘I want to have another baby,’” Barron said. “It’s incredible that someone can take another’s life over what he thinks is correct.”

Acosta said another victim who was killed, Paul Michels, was frequently at the spa.

“He would take them in his truck and bring them food,” Acosta said. “He was there helping them, like protecting them.”

The spa’s owner, Emily Tan, and another woman, Daoyou Feng, were also killed.

Barron said she just hopes people stop hating each other for our differences.

“I think it doesn’t matter what race we are, we are all one,” Barron said. “We pray for the victims we lost and the victims who were injured and the world. We hope the world will change.”

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