A gunman that shot and killed eight people in Atlanta has been charged with "malice murder" and aggravated assault, law enforcement officials said Tuesday.

The charge is a criminal offense in the state of Georgia. It is typically charged against people whose actions had implied or expressed malice. The charge further fuels speculation that the shooting may have been racially motivated, an allegation that authorities have yet to confirm.

Robert Aaron Long has been accused of shooting and killing eight people in Atlanta last week. The 21-year-old was taken into custody following a police chase just hours after he opened fire at three separate spas.

The FBI said that it is assisting in the investigation to determine whether bias was a motivating factor in the shooting. If there is evidence to back up the claim, Long could also face additional hate crime charges.

"Working with jurisdictions across Georgia, Long was quickly apprehended and now faces malice murder and aggravated assault charges in our jurisdiction," the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office said.

Seven out of the eight that were killed were women, six of whom were of Asian descent. Three of the women were over 60 years old.

The shooting rampage has sparked a nationwide outcry and anger with people across the nation condemning hate-based crimes against Asian Americans. Activists, Asian American, and Pacific Islander groups have called on the government for concrete action to prevent similar attacks.

Senator Tammy Duckworth, one of only two Asian Americans in the Senate, intends to take swift action to determine whether the recent attack was racially motivated. Duckworth also called out former president Donald Trump for using terms such as the "China Virus" as a major factor in the recent surge in hate crimes.

"From where I sit, I want to see a deeper investigation into whether or not these shootings and other similar crimes are racially motivated," Duckworth said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that he is "profoundly concerned" about the recent rise in violence against Asians during the COVID-19 pandemic.