In brief
In the early hours of Monday, Olaolukitan Adon Abel allegedly embarked on a violent rampage across Atlanta suburbs, resulting in the deaths of two women, one of whom worked for the Department of Homeland Security. The attacks have drawn widespread condemnation, with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin labeling them 'acts of pure evil.' Adon Abel, a 26-year-old immigrant from the UK who served in the Navy, faces multiple charges, including malice murder and aggravated assault. Investigations link the attacks, with authorities noting at least one victim seemed targeted at random. Abel has a history of violence, including a previous assault conviction in California.
ATLANTA (AP) - A man who served in the U.S. Navy after immigrating from Britain has been charged in a string of deadly attacks in the Atlanta suburbs that quickly drew the attention of President Donald Trump’s administration.
U.K.-native Olaolukitan Adon Abel, whose name appears in different variations in court and government records, is accused of killing two women, including a Department of Homeland Security employee, and critically injuring a man.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin called the shootings “acts of pure evil” and raised concern that Adon Abel, 26, was granted U.S. citizenship in 2022, during the Biden administration.
Three Early Morning Attacks, Miles Apart
The attacks rattled the Atlanta suburbs of Decatur, Brookhaven, and Panthersville in the early morning hours of Monday.
The first victim, 31-year-old Prianna Weathers, was found with gunshot wounds near a Decatur-area restaurant around 1 a.m. She was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
At about 2 a.m., a 49-year-old homeless man was shot multiple times while sleeping outside a grocery store in Brookhaven, approximately 12 miles northwest of the first attack. The man, whose identity remains undisclosed, is currently hospitalized in critical condition.
DHS worker Lauren Bullis, while walking her dog over 10 miles away in Panthersville, was discovered around 7 a.m. with gunshot and stab wounds. Sadly, she died at the scene, according to police.
Investigators in Brookhaven confirmed the three attacks were connected. Authorities believe at least one victim was randomly targeted.
DHS Employee Remembered for Her Generosity
Bullis, 40, served in various roles at the DHS Office of Inspector General, including as an auditor and innovation team leader. The DHS commemorated her on social media, stating, she brought a genuine sense of care to her colleagues every day. Her family noted she cherished running, reading, and traveling, embodying warmth and generosity to those around her.
Fellow DHS auditor Ashley Toillion expressed that Bullis was “the nicest, sweetest, most encouraging person I’ve ever met.”
Suspect Pleaded Guilty in California Assault
Military records reveal that Adon Abel enlisted in the Navy in 2020 and last served in the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron in Coronado, California. While stationed there, he received a Navy “E” Ribbon for outstanding performance related to battle readiness.
Adon Abel pleaded guilty in October 2024 to assaulting two police officers with deadly weapons and attacking another individual while in Coronado, as per California court records.
He is now facing charges of malice murder, aggravated assault, and firearms offenses connected to Monday’s assaults. After waiving his initial court appearance, a public defender representing him has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Markwayne Mullin disclosed that Adon Abel possesses a criminal record, including a sexual battery conviction. Online court records indicate that someone with a similar name and birthdate pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts of sexual battery last June in Chatham County, Georgia.
It remains unclear if Adon Abel had any criminal history prior to obtaining U.S. citizenship in 2022, given that the U.S. generally bars individuals with violent crime convictions from becoming citizens.
