The sheriff's deputy who said the Atlanta-area shooting suspect had 'a really bad day' got replaced as spokesman on the case

• A sheriff's deputy was removed as a media representative for the Atlanta-area shootings.
• Capt. Jay Baker sparked outrage at a press conference discussing the case.
• He described the suspect accused of killing eight people as having had "a really bad day."

The sheriff's deputy who said the suspect in the Atlanta-area shootings had a "really bad day" has been replaced as the case spokesman.

On Thursday, Erika Neldner, the communications director for Cherokee County, said in a statement that she would be taking over all media matters related to the shootings, the Associated Press reported.

Neldner replaced Capt. Jay Baker, who was widely criticized for comments he made about the suspect.

Georgia prosecutors on Wednesday charged Robert Aaron Long, 21, with with eight counts of murder over the shootings at three Atlanta-area spas on Tuesday.

Baker said Long had been "pretty much fed up and kind of at the end of his rope" on the day of the killings, comments that critics saw as victim blaming.

Six of the victims were Asian women, and the killings came with attacks on Asian Americans already on the rise.

Baker attracted further scrutiny after it emerged Wednesday that he had shared a racist image on his Facebook page in April.

Baker shared an image of a T-shirt with the Corona beer logo that said: "COVID-19, IMPORTED VIRUS FROM CHY-NA." In the caption, Baker wrote: "Love my shirt. Get yours while they last.'"

Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds said in a Thursday statement carried by ABC News that Baker had inadvertently caused "anger" and "heartache."

"In as much as his words were taken or construed as insensitive or inappropriate, they were not intended to disrespect any of the victims, the gravity of this tragedy, or express empathy or sympathy for the suspect," Reynolds said.

Neldner's statement gave no details about about Baker's future, but as of Friday morning he was still listed on the sheriff's office's website as director of communications and community relations.

Baker did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.

Deputies have said Long, who is in custody, admitted to carrying out the shootings. He has yet to enter a plea to the charges. He was due in court Thursday but waived his right to a hearing.

Under state law, Long could face the death penalty.

Prosecutors are also considering adding a hate-crime charge.

Long apparently told investigators the attack was not racially motivated, saying he had a sex addiction and viewed the spas, in Baker's words, as "a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate."

Long is being held without bond in the Cherokee County jail.