A man has been charged in a string of attacks that left two women dead and a man in critical condition, with one of the victims being identified as a Department of Homeland Security employee who was walking her dog at the time of her death.
Olaolukitan Adon Abel has been accused of carrying out a series of violent, seemingly random attacks that killed DHS worker Lauren Bullis as well as another woman on Monday, April 13. Abel is also alleged to have injured a man as part of his crime spree.
Bullis, 40, was shot and stabbed while walking her dog, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. Authorities said that the string of attacks began with a fatal shooting outside of a Checkers restaurant on Wesley Chapel Road, followed by another shooting in Brookhaven. Bullis was the final person attacked on Battle Forest Drive.
Authorities have not released the identities of the first woman who was killed or the name of the man who was injured outside of a Kroger grocery store.
Investigators tracked down Abel, 26, in his vehicle in Troup County by using license plate recognition technology, and he was then arrested. Abel is facing multiple charges, including murder, aggravated assault and weapons violations.
Following the tragedy, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin issued a statement Tuesday, April 14, about Bullis’ death to Fox News.
“Yesterday, a DHS employee, Lauren Bullis, was brutally shot and stabbed to death by Olaolukitan Adon Abel, a 26-year-old, born in the United Kingdom, who was naturalized by the Biden Administration in 2022,” Mullin said in the statement. “Since President Trump took office, USCIS has implemented measures to ensure individuals with criminal histories and who otherwise lack good moral character do not attain citizenship.”
Officials said that the attacks appear to be random. “It is apparent to us that this was a completely random attack,” Brookhaven Police Chief Brandon Gurley said.
Investigators have not yet revealed if they believe Abel had a motive for the attacks and it’s not currently clear why the specific victims were targeted.
Abel has a criminal history and was previously arrested for sexual battery in Chatham County, resulting in him being sentenced to jail time and receiving probation that included a required mental health evaluation.
Authorities also said that he has additional offenses that include assault and obstruction.
The investigation into the matter remains ongoing, and officials said that Abel may face additional charges as they continue to learn more about the killings.
It is not currently clear if Abel has entered a plea or retained legal counsel.
Following Bullis’ death, her family set up a GoFundMe page to help her husband, Jimmie, pay for funeral costs. The fundraiser page described Bullis as “the warmest and most welcoming human you’d ever be lucky to meet.”
