ATLANTA (AP) — An Atlanta man has been arrested in connection with a series of violent attacks that left two women dead and a man critically injured within a few hours on Monday. The killer, identified as Olaolukitan Adon Abel, has drawn national attention following revelations that one victim was a Department of Homeland Security employee who had been walking her dog.
In response to the tragic events, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin expressed his condolences and raised concerns regarding the defendant's citizenship status, highlighting that Abel, originally from the U.K., obtained U.S. citizenship in 2022 during President Biden's administration.
These acts of pure evil have devastated our Department, and my prayers are with the families of the victims, Mullin stated in a social media post, detailing Abel's alleged criminal past, including prior convictions, though he did not clarify if these were before his citizenship was granted.
Authorities are investigating whether the victims were targeted at random. The first shooting victim was discovered with several gunshot wounds early Monday, while a second victim, a homeless man, was shot while sleeping outside a grocery store. A third victim, Lauren Bullis, was found later with both gunshot and stab wounds. Abel fled the scene but was apprehended during a traffic stop in Troup County, Georgia.
Families of the victims have expressed their grief over the senseless violence, with Bullis's family describing her as a kind and compassionate person who enjoyed life and loved her family deeply. As the investigation unfolds, many are left questioning the safety of their community and the processes surrounding citizenship for individuals with criminal backgrounds.
