The suspect arrested in connection to a taking pictures at a Korean hair salon in Texas final week had “delusions” about Asians, based on his girlfriend, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Jeremy Theron Smith, 36, was arrested early Tuesday and charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a lethal weapon within the Could 11 taking pictures, based on online jail records.
Smith allegedly entered Hair World Salon final Wednesday and opened fireplace, hitting three ladies who suffered non-life-threatening accidents. The salon’s proprietor, an worker, and a buyer, all reportedly of Korean descent, have been injured within the assault.
Smith allegedly fired his gun 13 instances earlier than fleeing in his van. He later informed police he owned a .380 handgun and a .22-caliber, Kalashnikov-type rifle.
In an interview with police, Smith’s unidentified girlfriend mentioned that Smith started “having delusions that the Asian mob is after him or trying to hurt him” following a automotive crash two years in the past that concerned an Asian man, based on a police affidavit first obtained by The Dallas Morning News.
Smith had been “admitted to a number of psychological well being amenities” and fired from his job after “verbally attacking” his Asian boss, his girlfriend reportedly informed detectives.
The FBI Dallas field office announced Monday that it has opened a federal hate crimes investigation into the taking pictures. Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia mentioned final week that his division was investigating a possible connection between Wednesday’s assault and two different latest violent incidents focusing on the Asian American neighborhood.
“We’re very nervous. We’re very drained,” one of many victims, who didn’t reveal her identification, informed The Dallas Morning News. “This occurred to us for no cause.”
